Rotary International and its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) have hailed Africa's historic public health achievement after the continent was declared free of wild poliovirus.

The milestone, announced by Africa Regional Certification Commission (ARCC), comes four years after Nigeria – the last polio-endemic country in Africa – recorded its final case of wild poliovirus.  It follows decades of effort from GPEI partners, local and national leaders, and health workers throughout the African region.

Africa now features among five out of six World Health Organization (WHO)’s regions which are wild polio-free.

In Rwanda, the last case of poliovirus was recorded in 1993 in Nyamasheke District, and the country was declared free of the virus in 2004.

Over the course of the effort by GPEI partners, nine billion doses of oral polio vaccine have been administered, hundreds of millions of children have been immunised, and 1.8 million cases of wild poliovirus have been averted throughout the region.

In addition to volunteer work, Rotary has contributed $2 billion since the launch of its polio programme, PolioPlus, in 1985.

"In the face of a pandemic, the world has had very little good news to celebrate in global health this year, and the challenges ahead are formidable,” Rotary International President, Holger Knaack, said in a press release.

"That is why we must recognize this great achievement and commend all of the people who played important roles in eradicating wild polio in the African region. It took tremendous effort and partnership over many years.”

The road to the African region’s wild poliovirus-free certification has been paved by the dedication of health workers, mainly women, who travelled by every form of transportation imaginable to reach children with the polio vaccine, the statement says.

Polio vaccination efforts throughout the African region must continue, it adds.

Rotary International says that routine immunization must be strengthened to keep immunity levels high so the wild poliovirus does not return

The wild virus continues to circulate in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and as long as it circulates anywhere, all children are at risk.