Fight against polio won, but far from over

On Saturday October 24th, Kenya joined the world in marking the annual World Polio Day. The celebrations came three months after Africa was declared polio free. Globally, only Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan continue to report active cases of wild polio virus.

While welcome, the declaration has presented a predicament. On one hand, we are elated the continent has finally slayed the second dragon after smallpox. On the other, this success has been interpreted by some to mean the war is over, and consequently, the guards can be dropped. Like in every war, there is grave danger in such an approach and one common phrase used within polio circles is that; polio virus anywhere, is polio virus everywhere. In fact, Rotary International estimates that unless we completely eradicate polio, within 10 years, as many as 200,000 new cases could occur around the world each year.