By Fatima Saka
In a push to eradicate variant poliovirus type 2 in the Lake Chad Basin, Health Ministers from Cameroon, the Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, Niger, and Nigeria have launched a synchronized regional vaccination campaign aimed at protecting 83 million children under the age of five.
The campaign was officially launched in N’Djamena, Chad, where Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, personally administered vaccines to children, marking the start of the historic initiative.
This effort represents a critical milestone in the fight against variant poliovirus type 2, which continues to pose a serious threat to millions of children across the region.
In the past 12 months, the virus has been detected in environmental samples and among affected individuals in Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria. A total of 210 detections have been recorded, with 140 cases resulting in paralysis. Although no cases have yet been reported in the Central African Republic, the region remains at high risk for cross-border transmission—highlighting the urgent need for coordinated, regional intervention.
In 2024, over 50% of polio cases reported in Chad were linked to a strain circulating in Cameroon, further emphasizing the importance of synchronizing vaccination efforts.
Last year, nearly 12 million children were immunized through mass vaccination campaigns designed to halt the virus’s spread. Building on that momentum, the new round of synchronized vaccinations will take place from April 24 to 28, 2025, targeting high-risk and mobile populations in underserved border regions where surveillance remains below optimal levels.
The campaign will be powered by approximately 1.1 million frontline workers—including vaccinators, social mobilizers, and monitors—who are committed to reaching every last child.
“The Lake Chad Basin remains a critical area in our fight against polio. By coming together as a region, we reinforce our commitment to ending polio once and for all,” said Chad’s Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Abdelmadjid Abderahim.
As part of the launch, Health Ministers will also convene a closed-door session to address persistent challenges, analyze epidemiological trends, and bolster cross-border collaboration. The campaign aligns with the Africa Regional Polio Eradication Action Plan and the 2024–2025 Polio Eradication Cross-Border Coordination Plan, both updated in February 2025 to respond to the evolving health landscape.
Global health partners—including WHO, UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and Rotary International—are backing the effort. Local leaders, community health workers, and volunteers will also play pivotal roles in ensuring the campaign’s success.
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The initiative coincides with African Vaccination Week under the theme “Immunization for All is Humanly Possible.”
The Lake Chad Basin polio eradication campaign underscores the transformative power of regional cooperation in global health. Through joint action, governments, partners, and communities are laying the foundation for a polio-free future for every child in the region—and beyond.
(Adapted from the World Health Organization website)
