( MENAFN - African Press Organization) Download logo The Africa Regional Certification Commission for the Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication (ARCC) has urged Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, and the United Republic of Tanzania, along with health partners, to take swift action to close polio immunity gaps and address ongoing outbreaks. This recommendation comes after a week of intensive discussions (from 29 October to 01 November 2024) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, between ARCC members, country representatives, polio committees, and partners on addressing ongoing polio outbreaks in the region. The Deputy Minister of Health of Zanzibar, Mr.
Hassan Khamis Hafidh, highlighted Tanzania's dedication to eradicating poliovirus and achieving the wild polio-free status, and he extended a warm welcome to the country delegates and guests. ARCC Chair, Prof. Rose Leke acknowledged Tanzania's efforts and underscored the ARCC's commitment to support the eradication goal: halting ongoing variant poliovirus transmission by 2026.
With 23 African countries affected so far in 2024, the ARCC reviewed the status of polio eradication efforts, focusing on global and regional developments and progress in the six participating countries. Dr. Jamal Ahmed, Polio Eradication Programme Coordinator at the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, applauded the substantial reduction of variant poliovirus type 1 and 2 across Africa in the past ye.