KIGALI, Rwanda

African health ministers from the Lake Chad Basin region launched a vaccination campaign Thursday aimed at protecting 83 million under-5 children against polio variant type 2 in a renewed effort to eradicate circulation of the disease in the region.

Over the past 12 months, variant poliovirus type 2 has been detected both in the environment (wastewater samples) and among people in Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

A synchronized polio vaccination campaign will run from April 24-28 targeting high-risk and mobile populations in border areas, where surveillance indicators have remained below target.

A total of 210 detections have been reported across the four countries, 140 of which resulted in paralysis.

“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 Health Minister, Abdelmadjid Abderahim.

The WHO said roughly 1.1 million frontline workers including vaccinators, social mobilizers and monitors dedicated to protecting every last child were prepared to support the campaign.

Although no cases have been reported so far in the Central African Republic, the WHO said findings pointed to risks of cross-border transmission and the pressing need for coordinated regional action.

More than 50% of the polio cases reported in Chad in 2024 are linked to the strain circulating in Cameroon, underlining the importance of coordination and synchronization of polio response efforts, it said.

The basin around Lake Chad is home to over 30 million people.