Statement of WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti
On the eve of the 73rd World Health Assembly, WHO and UNICEF jointly issued an urgent call to action to avert major measles and polio epidemics as COVID-19 continues to disrupt immunization services worldwide, leaving millions of vulnerable children at heightened risk of vaccine-preventable diseases.
This call to action is particularly important for the African Region, where COVID-19 has strained heath systems and had a devastating impact on the delivery of essential health services, including routine immunization and vaccination campaigns.
As we fight COVID-19 we cannot neglect other health challenges. This is why WHO and immunization partners have developed innovative strategies to assist Member States to continue to deliver critical services during the pandemic.
This year, the African Region was certified free of wild poliovirus, and the polio programme is now working with all countries at risk of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) outbreaks. Vaccination campaigns were paused in March in line with COVID-19 restrictions to prevent mass gatherings of people. The campaigns resumed in July with safety precautions in place for vaccinators and communities, and more than 35 million children have already been vaccinated in the affected countries.
Additionally, countries are preparing for the introduction of the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2), a new tool that will help to end this last remaining form of poliovirus in the Region. Polio staff and the programme’s technical infrastructure are also transitioning into national health systems, to finish polio once and for all and at the same time benefit other health priorities.
An innovative Measles Outbreak Strategic Response Plan was also developed this year, and several countries enhanced their outbreak preparedness and response capacities. In July 2020, Ethiopia organized a measles campaign that reached 14.6 million children across the country, including 645 000 children who received their first-ever measles dose.
Working together, governments, partners, and communities can overcome challenges, to ensure the protective benefits of vaccination reach more children than ever before.
During the 73rd World Health Assembly this week, it is my hope that the global health community will renew its commitment to address all urgent health challenges, including eradicating all forms of polio and eliminating measles.