KIGALI: Rwanda marked over three decades without a single polio case by launching a vaccination campaign targeting children under one year of age, as part of World Polio Day activities. The event, held in Kamonyi district, emphasized the importance of continued vigilance and vaccination to protect future generations from the virus. According to Ghana News Agency, the Rwandan government organized events under the theme 'One Day, One Focus: Ending Polio,' which included an awareness campaign to highlight the importance of polio vaccination. Claude Muvunyi, director general of the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC), credited the country's polio-free status to strong commitment to child vaccination and widespread hygiene practices. Muvunyi emphasized the need for ongoing efforts to protect children through sustained vaccination and hygiene promotion. RBC announced the initiation of polio awareness month, during which additional outreach will be conducted via radio, television, and online platforms. This initiative aims to inform parents about vaccination schedules and encourage improved hygiene practices within communities. World Polio Day, observed annually on October 24, serves to honor the dedication of healthcare workers, volunteers, and partners in the fight against polio. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that while the African region was declared free of indigenous wild poliovirus in August 2020, there remains an urgent need to manage the spread of variant type 2 poliovirus (cVDPV2). This year, 290 cases of this poliovirus have been detected across 23 African countries, according to the WHO.