The Enugu State Government and the World Health Organisation (WHO), have reiterated their commitment to make Enugu State polio free through various interventions.
They stated this during an event to mark 2025 World Polio Day in Enugu on Friday with the theme “End Polio: Every Child, Every Vaccine, Everywhere”.
Speaking at the event, the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, said that Enugu State had prioritised polio eradication through intensified routine immunisation.
These efforts, he said, include targeted vaccination outreach, enhanced surveillance, and massive investment in primary healthcare revitalisation.
According to him, the recent investments and activities include, state-wide participation in two national rounds of Supplemental Immunisation Activities (SIA).
He said through the immunisation programme, 2,387,016 of children aged 0-59 months were vaccinated with the novel oral polio vaccine (nOPV) in April and June 2025.
“We also organised a two-day vaccination outreach in Umuchigbo and Ugwuogo wards, targeting children under-one, a health walk in which 16 communities in one council area were sensitised on the benefits of vaccination.
“We collaborate with partners like WHO, UNICEF, and local NGOs to support immunisation efforts,” the commissioner said.
Ugwu added that the state had leveraged on its partnership with the WHO and other polio partners to innovate strategies to enhance immunisation coverage and surveillance as the key weapons to defeat polio.
He further said that Gov. Peter Mbah’s administration remained committed to keeping the state polio-free in pursuit of the global polio eradication targets, and also to improving the overall healthcare outcomes for Enugu residents.
He explained that the state’s commitment to polio eradication was reflected in its investment in healthcare infrastructure, personnel training, and community engagement; building of 260 type-2 Primary Healthcare facilities scattered across all the 260 wards of the state.
The commissioner acknowledged that in spite of these progresses, challenges such as vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, insecurity, sub-optimal health systems and infrastructure gaps persists.
He stressed that Enugu State Government with the support of partners were intensifying community engagement and risk communication, strengthening surveillance and outbreak response.
“The state is also strengthening immunization governance and coverage, enhancing partnerships and collaboration with stakeholders.
“We urge all stakeholders, including communities, healthcare workers, and partners to support vaccination efforts and promote awareness,” Ugwu said.
Dr Adaeze Ugwu, the WHO State Coordinator, Enugu, said the organisation was committed to supporting the communities in their effort to eradicate the disease.
She commended the tireless efforts of communities and health workers to eradicate polio, saying, “let us keep pushing forward, making new innovations and advocating for every child to receive this life-changing polio vaccine”.
“Together, we can make history, Let us finish the job of ending polio”.
On his part, the Director of Medical Services, Enugu State Ministry of Health, Dr Amaechi Mgbodile, emphasised the need to enlighten communities on polio virus and vaccination.
