So with COVID-19 threatening to overwhelm health systems, the extensive polio response network is once again lending crucial support as countries build up systems to contain COVID-19," said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa.
Mobile phone applications originally developed for health workers to use in polio outbreak response and disease surveillance have been adapted by WHO to be used against COVID-19.
In addition, WHO Geographic Information System (GIS) centre in Brazzaville - which was opened in 2017 to support the polio programme with adapted technologies and data management - is using its huge experience in outbreak response and disease surveillance to support countries with a range of GIS and software technology and manual solutions to respond to COVID-19.
Alongside the support to the COVID-19 response, WHO polio staff are also maintaining critical functions and planning to resume mass polio immunization campaigns once the situation permits.
"It is important that the support to COVID-19 response does not jeopardize the progress made in stopping all forms of polio transmission in the region.
