Horn of Africa and Yemen Strengthen Commitment to End Variant Poliovirus Transmission
During the Interministerial Meeting on Polio in the Horn of Africa and Yemen, held on May 20, 2026, alongside the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly (WHA79), participating countries reaffirmed their dedication to eradicating variant poliovirus transmission. This commitment was underscored through enhanced cross-border coordination, improved surveillance, and synchronized action. The meeting was co-hosted by the WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) and the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO), with Professor Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, presiding.
Regional Collaboration in Focus
The gathering brought together Ministers of Health and senior officials from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen. Representatives from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) also participated. The primary objective was to accelerate regional collaboration to halt poliovirus transmission in a complex epidemiological landscape characterized by high population mobility, humanitarian crises, and security challenges.
The Horn of Africa and Yemen represent one of the most challenging polio epidemiological subregions globally. The region grapples with ongoing outbreaks of variant poliovirus, notably Somalia’s long-standing variant poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) outbreak, first identified in 2017, and Yemen’s ongoing cVDPV2 outbreak, which has resulted in paralysis for 452 children since 2021, primarily in the northern governorates.
Progress Amidst Challenges
Despite these significant challenges, recent data indicate that coordinated efforts are yielding positive results. Kenya has reported no poliovirus cases since July 2024. Ethiopia has achieved a remarkable 98% reduction in detections of circulating variant poliovirus types 1 and 2 in 2025. Djibouti has also recorded no detections of variant poliovirus types 1 and 2 since May 2025, following intensified response measures. Earlier this year, Ethiopia and South Sudan initiated synchronized vaccination campaigns after variant poliovirus type 1 (cVDPV1) was detected near their shared border, highlighting the persistent risk of cross-border transmission.
H.E. Ali Haji Adam, Minister of Health of Somalia, emphasized the country’s commitment to interrupting transmission, which includes reducing the number of zero-dose children, enhancing accountability, and improving access to hard-to-reach communities. He acknowledged the support from multilateral and GPEI partners in these efforts.
Importance of High-Quality Vaccination Campaigns
Ethiopia’s Minister of Health, H.E. Mekdes Daba, underscored the necessity of maintaining momentum through high-quality vaccination campaigns and stronger routine immunization. She highlighted the importance of cross-border coordination to address outbreaks of both poliovirus types 1 and 2, particularly in border areas. The meeting served as a critical platform for strengthening coordination with neighboring countries and regional mechanisms.
Participants at the meeting stressed that sustained political commitment and collaboration are vital to halting transmission in a region where mobility, insecurity, and humanitarian emergencies heighten the risk of spread. Dr. Mohamed Janabi reiterated the importance of protecting every child, emphasizing that stronger cross-border coordination and robust surveillance are essential for sustaining progress and safeguarding communities.
Financial Challenges and Resource Mobilization
The meeting occurred against a backdrop of challenging global health financing and declining external funding for polio eradication. Ministers highlighted the need for increased domestic resource mobilization and efficient implementation of activities to maintain progress despite operational pressures, including fuel shortages and rising costs.
Government representatives reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing vaccination campaign quality, strengthening routine immunization, and closing immunity gaps, particularly among underserved populations in border communities and insecure settings. They also pledged to improve poliovirus surveillance, expand community-based surveillance in hard-to-reach areas, and integrate vaccination efforts with broader health services to ensure timely outbreak detection and rapid response.
Michael McGovern, Chair of the Polio Oversight Board (POB), commended the countries for their commitment to high-quality polio activities despite funding constraints. He emphasized the need for strong surveillance and sustained collaboration to effectively stop poliovirus transmission.
Dr. Chris Elias, a member of the POB and President of the Global Development Program at the Gates Foundation, stressed the importance of reaching unvaccinated children and leveraging initiatives like Gavi’s rollout of hexavalent vaccines to enhance protection against preventable diseases.
As the meeting concluded, ministers reiterated their shared commitment to sustained collaboration, coordinated action, and stronger oversight to protect children from polio, ensuring that no country in the region is left behind in the eradication effort.
Source: www.zawya.com
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