African governments pledged to support the World Health Organization African Region Office to end all remaining forms of poliovirus.

The commitment came Thursday at a dedicated virtual meeting on polio at the Seventy-first WHO Regional Committee for Africa.

While the African Region was certified, free of wild poliovirus one year ago following four years without a case, outbreaks of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus continue to spread.

Cases increased last year in part because of disruptions to polio vaccination campaigns caused by COVID-19 pandemic, says WHO.

Discussions were also held towards implementation of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) 2022-2026 Strategy – launched in June to urgently stop the spread of wild poliovirus.

Dr. Tunji Funsho, chair of Rotary’s National Polio Plus Committee, Nigeria, says there is need for increased financial commitments.