South Africa’s National Ministry of Health (NDOH), with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), is bolstering efforts to combat climate change-related poliovirus transmission. Recognizing the importance of surveillance in managing circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPVs), NDOH is establishing new Environmental Surveillance (ES) sites in North West, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and Northern Cape provinces. This initiative underscores WHO’s dedication to enhancing South Africa’s surveillance capabilities.
From October 25-27, 2023, WHO and NDOH jointly launched four new ES sites in Mafikeng and Rustenburg, including a comprehensive training program for municipal and district health officials on sample collection and transport, sampling schedules, and data collection tools. This project strengthens local health officials’ skills and expands South Africa’s ES network, contributing to global polio eradication efforts.
Despite the WHO African region achieving wild poliovirus (WPV) certification in 2020, the threat of cVDPVs persists, necessitating robust surveillance. South Africa, with its 18 operational ES sites, aims to increase coverage, especially along borders, to detect and prevent potential outbreaks.
Original Source: WHO | Regional Office for Africa
Date: 2024-06-20 03:54:41
www.afro.who.int
