Brazzaville, Congo - Heightened efforts to curtail a devastating polio epidemic in West African countries got underway across the region Saturday, according to a joint statement by the African Regional Office of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF. The multi-country campaign was held in 15 countries to immunize more than 38 million children, by a network of more than 180,000 volunteers armed with 48 million doses of polio vaccine, to extinguish any remaining chains of polio transmission. The campaign will be repeated in the same countries and at the same level 28 April. The statement quoted health experts as confirming that while the devastating polio epidemic is on the verge of being stopped, complacency could breathe new life into the outbreak.

Since mid-2009, polio has re-infected 11 countries across West Africa, claiming many lives and leaving hundreds of children paralyzed for life.

A series of synchronized, multi-country immunization campaigns in the second half of 2009 and 2010 have now succeeded in all but wiping out this outbreak. The 25 March and 28 April campaign is expected to take that success further.

At the same time, polio eradication efforts are further intensifying in Nigeria, the only endemic country in Africa. Over the past 12 months, the number of new cases in the country has been slashed by an impressive 95% in 2010 compared to 2009.

But while the region stands on the threshold of a public health success, experts warned against complacency, cautioning that any pockets of unimmunized or under-immunized children could result in the outbreak gaining a second wind.

This risk was further underscored with confirmation of a new case reported in March in Niger, across the border from northern Nigeria.

'These latest campaigns are critical to re-achieving a polio-free West Africa,' said Dr Luis Gomes Sambo, the WHO Regional Director for Africa.

'Under the leadership of the governments of countries across the region, this epidemic is on the verge of being stopped, but we must all invest the
necessary resources to stop polio for ever in our Region.”

The Regional Director for UNICEF in West and Central Africa, Dr Gianfranco Rotigliano, adds: 'We are now seeing the results of the tremendous efforts of the past two years. Tens of thousands of children have been spared life-long paralysis. But at the same time, we must remember that in 2010 alone more than 500 children and adults were affected and are today suffering the effects of this devastating disease, and far too many have died. We must ensure
that the outbreak response continues and that all children are immunized.'

Also speaking on the intensified campaign, Mr. Ambroise Tshimbalanga-Kasongo, chair of Rotary International’s African PolioPlus Committee, said: 'At Rotary International, we will continue to do all we can to support communities and countries in their polio eradication efforts.

'Rotary members have contributed over US$1 billion to the fight against polio and will continue to do so until no child has to suffer from this crippling disease. We are proud to be able to be apart of this tremendous effort.'

Even after the outbreak is stopped, periodic vaccination campaigns, along with routine immunization, will continue to ensure immunity among the population and to minimize the risk of another outbreak. 　

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is spearheaded by national governments, WHO, Rotary International, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and UNICEF.

Since the GPEI was launched in 1988, the incidence of polio has been reduced by more than 99%.

In 1988, more than 350,000 children were paralysed each year in more than 125 endemic countries.

In 2010, 1,294 cases were reported worldwide, from 20 countries. Worldwide, only four countries remain endemic: Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan.

Pana 27/03/2011