The Enugu State Government and the World Health Organization (WHO) have reiterated their commitment to making Enugu polio-free through intensified immunisation and healthcare interventions.
The declaration was made during the 2025 World Polio Day event held on Friday in Enugu, themed “End Polio: Every Child, Every Vaccine, Everywhere.”
Speaking at the event, the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, said Enugu had prioritised polio eradication through strengthened routine immunisation, targeted vaccination outreach, enhanced surveillance, and significant investment in primary healthcare.
According to him, recent efforts included participation in two national rounds of Supplemental Immunisation Activities (SIA), through which 2,387,016 children aged 0-59 months were vaccinated with the novel oral polio vaccine (nOPV) in April and June 2025.
Ugwu highlighted other initiatives, including a two-day vaccination outreach in Umuchigbo and Ugwuogo wards targeting children under one year, and a health walk that sensitised 16 communities on the importance of vaccination.
He added that collaborations with partners such as WHO, UNICEF, and local NGOs have strengthened immunisation coverage and surveillance, describing these as the key strategies to defeat polio.
“Governor Peter Mbah’s administration remains committed to keeping the state polio-free while improving overall healthcare outcomes for residents. Our investment in healthcare infrastructure, personnel training, and community engagement is evident in the establishment of 260 Primary Healthcare facilities across all wards of the state,” he said.
Ugwu acknowledged ongoing challenges such as vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, insecurity, and gaps in the health system. He emphasised that the state government, with the support of partners, is intensifying community engagement, risk communication, and outbreak response.
“The state is strengthening immunisation governance, enhancing coverage, and promoting collaboration with all stakeholders. We urge communities, healthcare workers, and partners to support vaccination efforts,” he added.
Dr. Adaeze Ugwu, WHO State Coordinator for Enugu, commended the commitment of communities and health workers, stressing the importance of innovation and advocacy to ensure every child receives the polio vaccine.
“Together, we can make history. Let us finish the job of ending polio,” she said.
Dr. Amaechi Mgbodile, Director of Medical Services, Enugu State Ministry of Health, also emphasised the need to educate communities about the polio virus and the benefits of vaccination.
