The Horn of Africa has been engaged in a persistent battle against the variant poliovirus for nearly a decade, grappling with challenges such as low immunity in children, population movements, and insecure areas that hinder vaccination efforts. Recently, at the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly from May 19 to 27, 2025, health ministers from the region, in collaboration with partners from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), committed to enhancing their efforts to eradicate polio. This renewed commitment highlights the importance of coordinated response measures in the face of ongoing public health challenges.
The health ministers agreed to form an inter-ministerial coordination body, aimed at galvanizing actions across countries in the region to tackle the polio crisis. Among the significant initiatives discussed were synchronized polio vaccination campaigns, advanced poliovirus surveillance, especially along shared borders, and streamlined information sharing between nations. Such coordinated actions are vital to ensure no child is left unvaccinated.
One of the notable achievements in this collective effort was a synchronized vaccination drive that reached over 18 million children in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia between February and April 2025. This campaign represented one of the largest vaccination efforts in the region and showcased robust inter-country collaboration where real-time information on vaccination and surveillance allowed teams to identify and address pockets of unvaccinated children and circulating viruses.
In Ethiopia, health officials conducted a massive vaccination campaign in the Somali region in February, successfully immunizing over 15 million children. This strategic effort aimed to bolster their defenses against potential outbreaks. Similarly, Kenya vaccinated nearly 1 million children, particularly in high-risk areas alongside its border with Somalia and Ethiopia, within the initial days of the campaign. These proactive measures reflect a commitment to public health that crosses national boundaries.
Somalia, a country that has faced immense challenges in its fight against polio, demonstrated impressive resilience. Vaccination teams traversed 76 districts, reaching 2.4 million of the targeted 2.5 million children under the age of five with the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2). This approach relied on the cooperation of health workers from neighboring countries to ensure every eligible child, especially those near border areas, received vital immunizations.
In Djibouti, the urgency of the situation was underscored when, in April 2025, over 155,000 children were vaccinated following the detection of the variant poliovirus in both a child and environmental samples. This early response is a crucial aspect of disease prevention, showcasing the region’s commitment to protecting its vulnerable populations.
As part of the ongoing efforts to combat the poliovirus, a rigorous search for potential outbreaks has been initiated, focusing on high-risk locations. A joint surveillance review was conducted across countries in the Horn of Africa, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of the virus’s circulation within the region. While Kenya reported no variant poliovirus cases thus far in 2025, it was noted that acute flaccid paralysis symptoms had emerged among new arrivals at the Kakuma Refugee Camp, prompting continued vigilance among health authorities.
Ethiopia also remains vigilant, identified as the Horn of Africa’s new hotspot for variant poliovirus type 2 circulation, with 44 cases reported last year. This situation adds an urgent dimension to the ongoing response efforts, compelling health officials to strengthen their outbreak preparedness and improve surveillance mechanisms.
Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Acting WHO Regional Director for Africa, emphasized the importance of the regional solidarity demonstrated by the Horn of Africa countries in their coordinated vaccination efforts. He stated, “By working together, we are ensuring that progress towards polio eradication is sustained. WHO and GPEI remain committed to supporting these countries in their continued fight against polio.”
Additionally, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr. Hanan Balkhy, highlighted the significance of border recognition in public health. She remarked, “Diseases like polio don’t recognize borders and hide among vulnerable populations. We can all do more to ensure no child misses out on polio and other lifesaving vaccines.”
To facilitate these crucial collaborations, a coordination meeting took place in Kampala in September 2024, gathering representatives from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda, along with WHO and GPEI partners. This meeting focused on fortifying cross-border vaccination initiatives and aligning the health priorities of neighboring nations, emphasizing the joint responsibility to protect children from polio.
In conclusion, the commitment of the Horn of Africa’s health ministers to combat polio through enhanced coordination and vaccination campaigns stands as a testament to regional cooperation in the face of public health threats. As we continue to witness the efforts undertaken to eradicate this resilient virus, the importance of collaboration and vigilance remains clearer than ever. The hope is that through strategic partnerships and unwavering dedication, the Horn of Africa will not only achieve polio eradication but also foster a healthier future for all its children.
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