Africa is approaching a historic milestone in its fight against polio, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced, highlighting the continent’s remarkable progress toward eradicating the disease.
This development marks a significant achievement for public health, driven by digital tools, regional collaboration, and strengthened health systems across African countries.
The announcement coincides with World Polio Day 2025, where WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Mohamed Janabi, emphasized the importance of ensuring “every child, every vaccine, everywhere” is reached. He stressed that the continent’s near polio-free status reflects a renewed determination to protect children regardless of location or circumstance.
Between January and October 2025, 15 African countries reached nearly 200 million children with at least one dose of the polio vaccine through supplementary immunization campaigns. Thirteen countries carried out synchronized vaccination rounds, even in areas with challenging conditions, demonstrating the power of cross-border coordination.
Regional collaboration has been particularly effective in areas like the Horn of Africa, where Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia vaccinated over 18 million children across two consecutive campaigns. Similarly, in the Lake Chad Basin and Sahel region, health ministers coordinated efforts to protect 83 million children across national borders.
WHO data indicate significant results: active type 2 poliovirus outbreaks dropped from 24 countries in 2024 to 14 in 2025, and total virus detections fell by 54 percent. Janabi highlighted that enhanced laboratory capacity and environmental surveillance have been key, with 11 WHO-supported labs expanding genomic sequencing capabilities and 98 percent of countries now conducting wastewater monitoring.
Digital innovations have also improved frontline operations, with over 850,000 vaccinators across the continent receiving timely payments through mobile-money platforms. WHO continues to urge governments, partners, and communities to sustain momentum and collaboration to achieve a polio-free Africa, noting that continued vigilance is critical to prevent any resurgence.
