“I am delighted to learn the news of Africa being declared wild polio-free after their battle with the virus, and it is a testament to the health workers who have worked tirelessly to eradicate the virus from Africa.
As the CEO of Merck Foundation and as an African woman, I am proud that Merck Foundation is at the forefront of building health capacity in the beautiful continent, and I truly value the efforts of the health workers to eradicate the virus from Africa.”
The African continent was troubled with the wild poliovirus in 47 WHO AFRO member states for more than three decades and the eradication was declared by the African Regional Certification Commission for Polio eradication (ARCC) after identifying no cases following a four-year waiting period to monitor the spread of the virus.
Kind Regards,
Dr. Rasha Kelej
CEO of Merck Foundation
President, Merck More Than a Mother
One of the 100 Most Influential Africans (2019 & 2020)