The World Health Organisation has said that global efforts have achieved a more than 99.9 percent decrease in polio cases since 1988.
The UN body noted that at the end of the first quarter of 2022, WHO announced the successful closure of 32 outbreaks in 10 countries.
However, it said, there are ongoing outbreaks that demand vigilance.
The Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, who disclosed this in a message to mark World Polio Day said 20 million children have been spared disability and are walking.
World Polio Day is marked annually on October 24, providing an opportunity to highlight global efforts toward a polio-free world, and to honour the unwavering commitment of those on the frontlines of the fight to eradicate polio.
The theme for this year, “World Polio Day 2022 and Beyond: A healthier future for mothers and children”, kicked off with discussions in Geneva between WHO, Rotary International, and polio experts, to consider future efforts to continue the decades-long collaboration against polio.