Sanofi Reinforces Commitment As WHO Africa Region Becomes Free of Wild Poliovirus

The independent Africa Regional Certification Commission (ARCC), the body responsible for certifying the eradication of wild poliovirus in the WHO Africa Region (WHO-Afro), has granted the region ‘wild poliovirus free’ status. This follows after Nigeria, the last wild poliovirus endemic country in the region, recorded no new cases in three years – therequisite period – since it last reported cases of wild poliovirus.

Sanofi Pasteur, the world’s single largest producers of vaccines, is proud to be associated with this major milestone for Nigeria, WHO Africa Region and the overall global efforts to free the world of polio.

In Nigeria, Sanofi Pasteur has been working in collaboration withstakeholders such as the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), WHO, UNICEF and several multi-lateral and non-governmental organisations in the national immunisation programmes for children under five years of age.

Charles Wolf , Vaccines Head for Africa, said: “The ambition toeradicate polio from the world has been a long journey.

“The recent declaration by ARCC certifying the WHO Africa region as free of wild poliovirus is a watershed for the WHO and all partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).

“For over three decades, we at Sanofi Pasteur have been supporting the global public health coalition on polio through our expertise and the provision of innovative vaccines to support national, regionaland global immunisation programs for children under five years of age”.