2024 World Polio Day: UNICEF Raises Alarm Over Rising Outbreaks

From Paul Orude Bauchi

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has lamented the rising outbreaks of polio in countries declared polio free decades ago.

UNICEF’s Chief of Bauchi Field Office, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, made the observation during a road walk in Bauchi on Thursday to commemorate the 2024 World Polio Day.

Dr. Nuzhat Rafique

The road walk was organised by the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency in collaboration with UNICEF and development partners.

The event drew officials of UNICEF, World Health Organisation, Rotary District 9127, ASH Foundation, among others, to raise awareness on polio.

Rafique, in a goodwill message, noted that the day brings attention to the devastating impact of polio on children’s lives and well-being.

She believed that child deaths and physical disabilities that polio caused could be banished from Nigeria, and the world, if partners remained committed to stopping polio outbreaks.

She however expressed concern that Nigeria and many countries that had been declared polio free, were experiencing rising outbreaks of the disease.

Polio Survivors During the Road Walk in Bauchi To Commemorate 2024 World Polio Day

She attributed the rising outbreaks of polio to low immunisation coverage and urged government and partners to double up efforts to reverse the trend of polio outbreak.

“The global decline in childhood immunization coverage has led to rising outbreaks, even in countries that have been polio-free for decades,” she lamented.

She said UNICEF has supported Bauchi state in its Polio Eradication Initiatives and Immunization Plus Days (IPDs) campaigns for decades.

“This year alone we have supported 3 Statewide Polio Outbreak Response (OBR) campaigns and 2 targeted local OBRs in 4 LGAs with funding for vaccine logistics, social mobilization and technical assistance.

“It is heartwarming to note that Bauchi has been free of wild polio virus since the last case in 2013.

“However, we are still contending with the variant form of the virus”

The UNICEF Chief of Bauchi Field Office disclosed that 2.3 million children in Nigeria and around 22,000 children in Bauchi State have not received routine immunization (Zero dose).

“Outbreaks of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) continue to persist, with 4 cases of cVDPV2 (73 cases nationally) documented in Bauchi in 2022.”

Rafique stated that the continued spread of polio serves as a crucial reminder that until government partners eradicate all forms of this disease, “children everywhere remain at risk”

She observed that the battle against polio is particularly difficult in the most challenging environments, yet eradication is attainable.

“UNICEF delivers over 1 billion doses of polio vaccines each year—the largest portion of global vaccine deliveries,” she disclosed.

“Today, World Polio Day, we call on governments to prioritize vaccination for all children against polio, especially in hard-to-reach areas and communities with low immunization rates.

“Strengthen immunization systems to ensure every child receives essential, life-saving vaccines. (zero children with zero dose status)

“Allocate critical technical and financial resources to local efforts to swiftly address outbreaks and guarantee that children are vaccinated.

“Keep the polio eradication on the front burner of political discourse while leveraging innovative solutions and coordinated actions to enhance the quality of immunization campaigns.

“We ask the Bauchi Emirate Council to support the mobilization of parents and caregivers to avail their children for vaccinations and to support the resolution of non-compliance during and after campaigns”