Despite Nigeria attaining wild poliovirus-free status, the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF) and public health experts have warned that the fight against the virus is far from over until the countries where the virus remains endemic are entirely free of polio.
Nigeria was officially declared free of the wild poliovirus by the World Health Organization (WHO) in August 2020. However, the foundation highlighted that Afghanistan and Pakistan, the last two countries still harbouring the virus, pose a continued risk to global eradication efforts.
“Across Africa, and here in Nigeria, the story of polio has changed. The wild poliovirus is gone from our soil, but our mission is not yet complete. Polio anywhere remains a threat to children everywhere. Until Afghanistan and Pakistan are polio-free, our work is not done,” said Emeka Offor, founder of the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, during an event in Abuja marking World Polio Day.