The spread of the paralyzing strain of the circulating Variant Poliovirus type 2 (cVPV2) remains a major health concern in Nigeria. Just this year, 16 instances of the cVPV2 have been reported in Katsina state, with the majority of the cases occurring in Batsari LGA. To curb this spread, the Katsina State Government, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners, notably the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, redesigned its immunization programs to guarantee that all susceptible children receive potentially life-saving vaccinations.
Interventions including identification, training, and deployment of local volunteers through traditional leaders to act as champions and vaccinators in high-risk groups, as well as high-level lobbying for society regulators. As of June 2024, the Katsina local response team had administered life-saving vaccinations to 253,006 targeted children from 11 local government areas, out of the 326,069 total. Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda, the governor of Katsina State, expressed gratitude to WHO and its partners for their ongoing support and noted that the state government will keep collaborating closely with them to maintain the benefits.
cVDPVD2 cases decreased by 70 percent in 2023.
Dr. Radda pointed out that there has been enormous progress in vaccinating vulnerable and exposed youngsters, helping to stop the infection. To eradicate the virus, Nigeria must stop the spread of the cVPVD2 virus, especially in the states that make up the Axis of Intractable Transmission (AIT): Katsina, Kano, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi. Niger State is also especially concerning considering that instability affects 14 of its 25 LGAs, which has a detrimental effect on the delivery of health and immunization services.
Although Nigeria was proclaimed wild polio-free in 2020, spreading cVDPV2 instances, which arises from mutations in the weakened virus strain used in oral polio Vaccines (OPV), is still prevalent in the nation. The county reported 170 cases in 2022, and 1028 cases in 2021. As of August 2023, six states got reports of 51 cases, all of which were clearly isolated in the three states of Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara. Nigeria has achieved impressive strides, as seen by a 70% decrease in cVDPVD2 notifications in 2023 when compared to the same period in 2022.
70% have received the inactivated polio vaccine.
Data from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2023, revealed that 67% of children between the ages of 12 and 23 months nationwide have received the third dose of the OPV. This represents a progressive improvement, but still falls short of the 95% WHO-recommended target required to prevent outbreaks. Approximately 70% of individuals have received the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), while regional variations are notable. At the forefront of the virus elimination campaign is the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), with aid from WHO through Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners, is leading efforts to eliminate all forms of poliovirus.
Following discussions with the Nigerian government last year, the GPEI partners targeted 13 high-risk and security-compromised states with a routine immunization intensification that includes both the IPV vaccine and the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2). Thus far, Nigeria remains diligent in carrying out widespread immunization drives, focusing on high-risk communities with several rounds of supplemental immunization activities (SIAs). Over 45,000 community-based informants and health professionals in Nigeria have formed a strong polio surveillance system, reporting suspected instances of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP), a major polio symptom.
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As of 2024, the WHO-recommended target of 2 per 100,000 children under the age of 15 is exceeded by the AFP surveillance rate of 5.5 per 100,000, demonstrating efficient reporting and monitoring systems. However, a major obstacle to the eradication of the virus is insecurity, especially in the North-East and North-West. Also, up to 20% of parents in several northern states have stated that they are reluctant to vaccinate their children against the virus. Combined, an estimated 2.7 million children under the age of five were not vaccinated against the virus because of a variety of reasons, such as logistical difficulties, vaccine reluctance, and insecurity.