WHO regrets erosion of progress made by COVID-19 in Africa’s war on polio

The COVID-19 pandemic is eroding the progress made in Africa’s fight against polio, leaving many children at risk, according to the director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom.

Tedros noted that the world has shifted focus to address the spread of COVID-19 at the expense of other deadly diseases.

Their report comes less than two months after the African Regional Certification Commission certified the WHO African Region as wild polio free after four years without a case.

“The COVID-19 pandemic hurt momentum as immunization efforts and polio were suspended,” he said.

The last case of wild poliovirus on the continent was detected in Nigeria in 2016.

According to WHO, since 1996 polio eradication efforts have prevented up to 1.8 million children from paralysis for life and saved approximately 180,000 lives.

Tedros, in his remarks Thursday, called for more funding to address the immunization gaps that have been created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We need to change course quickly and make sure no child is left behind,” Tedros said, noting that children were now also at risk for other diseases, such as measles and pneumonia.

“While the world is watching closely as scientists work to ensure that safe and effective vaccines for COVID-19 are developed, it is important to ensure that all children receive the vaccines that are already available to save lives,” he added.