By: Guest Writer
Poliomyelitis, more commonly known as polio, is a highly contagious viral disease that particularly affects children under the age of five, sometimes leaving them permanently paralyzed and, in severe cases, taking their lives. For decades, polio was one of the most feared diseases in the world, crippling hundreds of thousands each year. The arrival of vaccines in the 1950s marked the beginning of global efforts to bring the disease under control, but progress was uneven, and Africa remained one of the most difficult battlegrounds.
Weak healthcare systems, conflict-ridden regions, widespread poverty, and deep-seated mistrust of government and international institutions made vaccination campaigns in Africa especially challenging. Nigeria stood out as the epicenter of wild poliovirus for many years. As recently as 2012, the country was responsible for more than half of all global cases, making it the single greatest obstacle to worldwide eradication. The disease thrived in rural and underserved areas, where access to healthcare was limited and misinformation about vaccines spread easily.
The journey to freeing Africa from wild poliovirus was long and often uncertain. Governments across the continent had to commit resources and mobilize their people in ways that tested political will and community resilience. International organizations, including the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, played a central role in coordinating vaccination campaigns and maintaining disease surveillance. Support from partners such as Rotary International and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation kept funding steady and provided technical expertise.
At the heart of the fight, however, were the health workers, volunteers, and community leaders who traveled to the most remote villages, often risking their lives to vaccinate children. In Nigeria, the work of these men and women was particularly critical. Resistance from extremist groups like Boko Haram, coupled with misinformation that vaccines were harmful, made immunization campaigns especially dangerous. Yet through persistence, dialogue with traditional and religious leaders, and trust-building within local communities, these efforts eventually gained acceptance and saved millions of children from the crippling disease.
Among the many individuals who stood out in this battle was Dr. Tunji Funsho, the chair of Rotary’s Nigeria PolioPlus Committee, whose relentless work helped Nigeria cross the finish line in the fight against polio. His leadership was so impactful that in 2020 he was named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world.
The turning point came in August 2016, when Nigeria recorded its last case of wild poliovirus. For four years afterward, extensive surveillance was carried out across the country and across the continent to ensure there were no new cases. Finally, on August 25, 2020, the World Health Organization declared Africa free of wild poliovirus. The announcement was made after the continent had satisfied the strict requirement of four consecutive years without a single reported case.
The declaration was celebrated as a moment of triumph across Africa and the wider world. For a continent once considered the toughest place to eradicate polio, the news was not just a medical victory but a symbol of what could be achieved through determination and cooperation. Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, described the achievement as a monumental milestone, calling it proof that united health campaigns could overcome even the most daunting of challenges.
The eradication of wild poliovirus transformed Africa’s health and development landscape. Millions of children who might have otherwise been paralyzed by the disease were spared. The economic impact was also profound, as the removal of a crippling disease promised to save the continent tens of billions of dollars in healthcare costs and lost productivity over the coming decades.
The fight against polio also left behind strong public health infrastructure. Networks for surveillance, systems for delivering vaccines, and the trained workforce that was developed in the process have since been used to combat other health crises, including outbreaks of Ebola and the COVID-19 pandemic. In this way, the struggle against polio built resilience far beyond the disease itself, giving African countries tools to handle future challenges more effectively.
For Nigeria, the achievement carried deep significance. Having once been the global hotspot for the disease, the country’s ability to finally defeat wild poliovirus stood as a testament to resilience and persistence. At its peak, Nigeria recorded hundreds of cases each year, and vaccination teams often faced suspicion, hostility, and violence. Yet through years of determined outreach and advocacy, the tide turned. Community leaders, traditional rulers, and religious authorities became champions of vaccination, encouraging their people to protect children. By 2016, the country had recorded its last case, paving the way for the eventual continental declaration four years later. Today, Nigeria continues to invest in sustaining these gains while confronting the challenge of other health issues that demand equal attention.
The eradication of wild poliovirus across Africa did not mean the end of all polio-related threats. Vaccine-derived poliovirus, a rare strain that can emerge in under-immunized populations, continues to appear in some regions, reminding leaders and health workers that vigilance is still required. At the same time, other pressing health concerns such as malaria, maternal mortality, malnutrition, and periodic outbreaks of infectious diseases like cholera and Ebola remain urgent. Yet the victory over wild polio demonstrates that Africa can overcome even the most daunting health challenges when governments, communities, and international partners unite with a common purpose.
The declaration in 2020 that Africa was free of wild poliovirus was one of the most important public health victories in modern history. It was the result of decades of relentless work, massive investment, and the courage of countless individuals who dedicated their lives to protecting children from paralysis and death.
Beyond eliminating a single disease, this achievement proved something greater: that with political will, grassroots involvement, and international solidarity, no challenge is insurmountable. For Africa, the eradication of wild polio is not only a reminder of what has been achieved but also a beacon of hope for what is still possible in the fight against other diseases that continue to hold back progress across the continent.
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