Polio
latest news & developments
Vaccines: The US is endangering children while Africa leads the way
Countries on the continent are not waiting to be saved, they are paving the way with community-led, astute, innovative and independent immunisation programmes
Polio crusading entrepreneur bikes across Africa
Kunle Adeyanju has travelled to 42 cities in 13 countries on a mission to help eradicate polio. What he experienced runs counter to prevailing narratives about the countries
Eradicating wild polio would eradicate so much tragedy
Over the past two years, the Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted efforts to combat vaccine-preventable diseases, including polio
To vaccinate or not to vaccinate – A human rights question
The South African Human Rights Commission reiterates its call in encouraging everyone to have themselves vaccinated against Covid-19
Do you have to take the Covid-19 vaccine or not?
The South African law does not make it mandatory for citizens to be vaccinated, and the same will apply for Covid-19 immunisation. But experts say people still have the…
Covid vaccines: Hope balanced with caution
As Covid vaccines near the manufacturing stage, a look at two polio vaccines provides valuable historical insights
Good news: Africa is declared free of wild polio
The global polio eradication initiative, involving governments, the World Health Organisation and other institutions, was launched in 1988. It took three decades of immunising…
Pakistan polio vaccine teams on edge after fatal attacks
Multiple polio vaccination workers in Pakistan have been killed in attacks targeting health workers in the country’s northwest earlier this week
Good news, Chicken, the sky isn’t falling
Surprised? Which is to be expected when the media thrives on keeping us in a state of alarm
Polio cases could be wiped out within 12 months, says World Health Organisation
With just nine cases of the virus so far this year – in Pakistan and Afghanistan – the WHO is confident the battle against polio is nearly won.
Africa hits a high point in the fight against polio
The continent is two years away from being certified polio-free but violent insurgencies could hamper efforts to finally eradicate the virus.
‘We testify to spare them our pain’
Adults scarred by polio are fighting stigma and shame to persuade parents in the DRC to vaccinate their children.
Fighting halts polio vaccination in northern Syria
UN aid agencies say heavy fighting has prevented health workers from getting polio vaccine to 100 000 Syrian children.
Vaccination ceasefire urged in Syria
A polio outbreak to the east of the country has reinforced the call for relief workers’ safety.
WHO confirms polio outbreak among Syria’s children
The World Health Organisation has confirmed a polio outbreak among young children in north-east Syria, adding that the risk is high for it to spread.