By Precious Mark
The World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to Nigeria, Dr. Pavel Ursu, has commended Nigeria for maintaining six years with zero wild poliovirus cases.
The commendation was released by WHO Nigeria on Tuesday following an inspection visit to the WHO-accredited National Polio Laboratory in Ibadan, Oyo State, where Dr. Ursu, in his role as WHO Representative and Head of Mission to Nigeria, met with technical teams driving disease surveillance and rapid detection across the country.
Speaking, Dr. Ursu attributed the milestone to robust surveillance, scientific innovation, and strong partnerships.
He noted that the laboratory’s technical capacity remains pivotal to identifying potential health threats and preventing outbreaks before transmission occurs.
The Ibadan National Polio Laboratory is currently preparing for full reaccreditation by the third quarter of 2026. This upcoming milestone aims to sustain Nigeria’s technical capacity to process suspected case notifications and environmental wastewater samples with precision and speed.
Working alongside the Federal Government of Nigeria and international development partners, the WHO continues to support nationwide disease surveillance, routine immunization campaigns, and real-time data monitoring to ensure every child is reached.
Key operational achievements of the Ibadan laboratory include processing over 23,000 stool samples annually across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory, managing environmental monitoring across 60 wastewater surveillance sites, and successfully sequencing over 1,000 poliovirus isolates since gaining WHO accreditation in February 2025.
Health authorities reaffirmed that maintaining Nigeria’s wild polio-free status requires sustained scientific commitment, strategic leadership, and multisectoral collaboration.