Joint Statement by WHO, UNICEF, and Rotary International

Joint Statement by WHO, UNICEF, and Rotary International

On the Occasion of World Polio Day – 24 October 2025
Theme: Together, We End Polio”

Today, as we commemorate World Polio Day 2025, we – the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and Rotary International – stand united to eradicate polio in Ethiopia and secure a polio-free world by protecting children everywhere. This year’s theme, “Together, We End Polio, reflects our shared commitment to end all forms of poliovirus and protect every child from this preventable disease.

On 25 August 2020, the Africa Regional Certification Commission (ARCC) for Polio Eradication officially declared that the WHO African Region, which comprises 47 member states, is free of wild poliovirus (WPV).

Ethiopia has made significant strides in polio eradication. Since interrupting indigenous wild poliovirus transmission in 2001 and reporting its last imported case in 2014, the country was certified wild polio-free in 2017. These achievements were made possible through the leadership of the Ministry of Health, the dedication of frontline health workers, and the steadfast support of global partners.

However, the fight is not yet over. Ethiopia continues to face outbreaks of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2). From November 2023 to June 2025, 85 cases have been reported, with the majority from Oromia Region, and additional cases across other regions.

As an outbreak response, the Ethiopian Public Health Institute and Ministry of Health, in collaboration with WHO, UNICEF, and other partners, have implemented sequential successful subnational vaccination campaigns with nOPV2 for children resulting in whole-country coverage

Recently, the country has implemented additional rounds of nOPV2 vaccination campaigns, with the latest round targeting over 8.5 million children across 22 zones in 7 regions, including children under five and under ten years of age. These campaigns are integrated with other lifesaving services, such as catch-up vaccinations for zero-dose and under-vaccinated children.

We commend the Government of Ethiopia, regional health bureaus, and community leaders for their decisive action and leadership. We also recognize the critical contributions of our partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) (WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, Rotary, CDC, and Gates Foundation) – including other stakeholders such as CHAI, JSI, PATH, and Core Group and others – for their continued support.

As we mark Ethiopia’s eighth anniversary of certification as wild polio-free, we acknowledge the importance of community engagement and call on all stakeholders to redouble efforts, strengthen surveillance, and ensure high vaccination coverage. Every child must be reached, and no child should be left behind.

Together, we can eradicate polio in Ethiopia and contribute to a polio-free world.

Thank you.