By Nafisat Makinde
N’Djamena, Chad April 17, 2025 Health ministers from five West African countries Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria have officially launched a synchronized regional campaign to immunize 83 million children under the age of five against variant poliovirus type 2.
The vaccination drive, which will run from April 24 to 28, 2025, marks a significant step in the fight to eliminate polio in the Lake Chad Basin, a region considered a persistent hotspot for the virus. The coordinated effort aims to reach high-risk and mobile populations, especially in cross-border communities where surveillance has remained below optimal levels.
In the past year alone, variant poliovirus type 2 has been detected in environmental samples and among affected individuals in four of the five participating countries Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria. A total of 210 virus detections have been reported, with 140 resulting in paralysis. While the Central African Republic has not recorded any confirmed cases, the region remains vulnerable to cross-border transmission.
Chad has borne the brunt of the outbreak, with over half of its reported cases in 2024 linked to virus strains originating in Cameroon. Health authorities say this highlights the urgent need for a harmonized approach to immunization and surveillance across the region.
“The Lake Chad Basin remains a critical area in our fight against polio,” said Chad’s Minister of Health, Dr. Abdelmadjid Abderahim. “By coming together as a region, we reinforce our commitment to ending polio once and for all.”
Nearly 12 million children were immunized across the region in 2024 through emergency campaigns. This latest synchronized effort builds on those gains and is part of the Africa Regional Polio Eradication Action Plan and the Cross-Border Coordination Plan 2024-2025 strategies endorsed by member states and revised earlier this year to reflect current epidemiological trends.
During the campaign’s launch in N’Djamena, participating ministers will hold a closed-door meeting to address operational challenges, share surveillance data, and strengthen cross-border collaboration.
Global health organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and Rotary International are supporting the initiative. Over 1.1 million frontline workers, including vaccinators, mobilizers, and monitors, will be deployed to ensure that every eligible child is reached.
The campaign coincides with African Vaccination Week, observed under the theme “Immunization for all is humanly possible.” It reflects the power of unified regional action and the unwavering commitment of governments, partners, and communities to secure a polio-free future for Africa.
Source: World Health Organization (WHO). “West African Nations Unite to Protect 83 Million Children from Polio.” Published April 17, 2025. Available at:https://www.who.int
