On World Polio Day, the Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN) has emphasized the need for continued efforts to maintain Malawi’s polio-free status.
According to the statement, dated October 24, 2025, the organization is commending the Government of Malawi and its partners for their swift response to a wild poliovirus case detected in 2022, which led to a successful containment of the outbreak and the reinstatement of Malawi’s polio-free status.
However, MHEN stressed that the fight against polio is not over, and sustained vigilance is critical.
The global theme for World Polio Day this year, “End Polio: Every Child, Every Vaccine, Everywhere,” highlights the importance of ensuring all children are protected against polio, regardless of location or circumstance.
MHEN called for increased domestic funding for immunization and disease surveillance, strengthened community engagement and awareness, and improved data systems and logistics to ensure every child receives every required vaccine.
MHEN’s Executive Director emphasized that polio eradication is a matter of equity and social justice, ensuring every Malawian child has the right to good health. The statement further clarifies that over 100 civil society organizations under its alliance, MHEN, are dedicated to promoting equitable access to quality, affordable, and responsive healthcare services in Malawi.
The organization urged stakeholders to work together to protect Malawi’s children from polio and ultimately consign the disease to history.
