World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia (SEA) regional director Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh has urged all to continue their efforts against polio as the region is going to complete five years today (January 13) without any case of wild poliovirus.
In a media statement on the eve of the day, Poonam said this is a remarkable achievement in view of the continued threat of poliovirus importation from the remaining polio-endemic countries.
“Countries in the region have been making commendable efforts, stepping up vigilance against polio and continuing to protect children against the crippling virus.
“Completing half a decade without any case of wild poliovirus is yet another achievement and a reminder that we need to continue our efforts until the disease is eradicated globally. We need to ensure that our efforts and investment over the years to eradicate polio do not go waste,” she said.
WHO South-East Asia region reported its last case of wild poliovirus in West Bengal, India, in 2011, which facilitated polio-free certification of the region on March 27, 2014.
As part of the Polio End Game strategy, countries in the region are accelerating introduction of one dose of injectable inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) in childhood immunization schedules, along with plans for a globally synchronized, phased and sequential withdrawal of oral polio vaccines from the programme. These strategies are aimed at addressing all polio – including the rare cases of vaccine derived polio.
“Our efforts to stop polio and now to keep the region polio-free have been possible due to numerous innovative strategies that helped strengthen immunization and disease surveillance, and promote community ownership.
“While these lessons learnt are now being adopted by the remaining endemic areas, countries in the region need to replicate these strategies and optimally use the polio programme resources for other public health goals,” Poonam said.
