African Health Ministers Launch Polio Vaccination Drive in Lake Chad Basin

Health ministers from the Lake Chad Basin region launched a synchronized vaccination campaign targeting 83 million children under 5 against polio variant type 2, detected in Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria over the past year, Anadolu Agency reported. The WHO reported 210 cases (140 causing paralysis), with cross-border transmission risks highlighted.

The campaign, running April 24–28, will focus on high-risk border areas, deploying 1.1 million frontline workers. Chad’s Health Minister emphasized regional unity to eradicate polio. No cases have been reported in the Central African Republic yet, but coordination is critical—50% of Chad’s 2024 cases linked to Cameroon’s strain.

The Lake Chad Basin, home to 30 million people, remains a priority for polio elimination.