Eradicating Polio: A Success Story in Nigeria - Reports on the Success of a Sustained Polio Eradication Campaign in Nigeria, Contributing to the Global Fight against Polio

Emily Brown^*
*Correspondence: Emily Brown, Department of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK, Email:

Keywords

Polio eradication • Nigeria • Vaccination • Community engagement • Public health • Infectious diseases

Introduction

Polio, short for poliomyelitis, is a highly infectious viral disease that primarily affects children under the age of five. While it can be prevented through immunization, there is currently no cure. Polio can lead to irreversible paralysis and can be fatal in some cases. For many decades, polio was a significant public health issue globally, but the introduction of the polio vaccine has drastically reduced its prevalence [1].

In Nigeria, as in many other parts of the world, polio was once endemic. However, the country has experienced a remarkable turnaround in recent years, going from being one of the last polio hotspots to being declared polio-free by the World Health Organization in 2020. This paper explores the strategies and efforts that led to this significant public health achievement. We aim to document Nigeria's journey towards polio eradication, highlighting the various interventions used, the challenges faced, and how they were overcome. We believe that understanding this success story can provide valuable lessons for other countries still battling this crippling disease [2].

Literature Review

The Nigeria polio eradication initiative began in the late 1980s, coinciding with the launch of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). However, progress was slow due to numerous challenges, including political instability, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, low routine immunization coverage, and resistance from communities due to misinformation and mistrust. In response, a multifaceted strategy was adopted, focusing not only on immunization but also on community engagement and building trust, strengthening routine immunization systems, and improving surveillance. Vaccination campaigns, often conducted as National Immunization Days, were held multiple times a year. Simultaneously, efforts were made to engage religious, community, and political leaders to increase acceptance of the vaccine [3]. Data on polio cases were collected from the WHO Polio Information System. We also reviewed relevant literature, reports, and policy documents and conducted interviews with key stakeholders involved in the polio eradication campaign [4].

Discussion

Nigeria's comprehensive approach resulted in a steady decline in polio cases from the early 2000s. In 2020, after three consecutive years with no reported wild poliovirus cases, the country was declared polio-free by the World Health Organization [5]. Several factors contributed to this achievement. High political commitment, the involvement of traditional and religious leaders, the use of innovative strategies such as the use of local influencers and health workers for vaccination campaigns, the deployment of health camps providing additional health services alongside polio vaccination were among the key drivers of success. Also, increased surveillance and response capacity played an important role in detecting and responding to polio cases promptly. However, the journey was not without challenges. Resistance to the vaccine, logistic difficulties in reaching remote and conflict-ridden areas, and maintaining high-quality immunization campaigns were among the significant challenges encountered [6].

Conclusion

Nigeria's success in eradicating polio offers invaluable lessons for global public health. It underscores the importance of a comprehensive and tailored approach, strong political commitment, community engagement, and robust surveillance in disease eradication efforts. However, efforts must continue to maintain high immunization coverage and surveillance to prevent a resurgence of the disease.

Acknowledgement

None.

Conflict of Interest

None.

References

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