Africa defeats Polio

A virus that spreads from person to person, mostly through contaminated water: polio. It mainly affects children under five. It attacks the nervous system and can lead to paralysis, even death when breathing muscles are affected. There's no cure but the vaccine protects you for life.

History

The vaccine against polio came on the market in 1952. Mass public vaccination programmes were followed and had immediate effect. ​
​Polio had disappeared from the US, UK, Australia and much of Europe but remained present in other countries by 1988. The World Health Assembly made a resolution to eradicate the disease completely by the year 2000.

Nigeria

Especially Nigeria needed a lot of effort to reach remote and dangerous places which were under threat from militant violence. Some health workers were killed in the process.

The Nigerian Polio Survivors Association has been crucial in persuading people to get vaccinated. They persuade the parents by letting them see how they struggle to reach them and asking them "Don't you think it is important for you to protect your child not to be like us?" Like this, they managed to win the trust of communities in getting vaccinated.

And now, after years of hard work, the whole continent of Africa has been declared free of the wild polio virus! More than 95% of its population has been immunised.

However...

Countries should remain vigilant, WHO says. Once global eradication is achieved, we can let our guard down.