POLIO NEWS - October 2022
 download PDF POLIO NEWS October 2022 Dear polio eradication supporter, October was an extremely exciting month for polio eradication efforts. On 18 October, in an event co-hosted by Germany at the World Health Summit in Berlin, global leaders came together to commit more than US$ 2.6 billion towards the GPEI’s 2022-2026 Polio Eradication Strategy. The energetic event featured pledge announcements from donors and country governments, inspiring testimony from polio survivor Minda Dentler, photo-ops with Steiff teddy bears calling to #EndPolio and more. Investing in the GPEI’s strategy is critical to finally eradicating polio once and for all – as the Gates Foundation’s Gargee Ghosh and Gavi’s Seth Berkley have recently made clear in opinion pieces – and this pledging moment is an important step in the right direction. Celebrating World Polio Day! Building on the momentum from the GPEI Pledging Moment, the polio eradication community gathered all around the world on 24 October—from Geneva to Copenhagen to Seattle—to celebrate World Polio Day, an annual moment to reflect on progress we’ve made and recommit to wiping out polio for good. In addition to new stories and podcasts from polio eradication partners and countless Rotary-hosted events worldwide, this year’s celebrations featured headline events from WHO and Rotary, who focused on a healthier future for mothers and children, WHO European Region, celebrating the region's 20-year polio-free anniversary, and finally the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center, where Rotary member and polio survivor Ramesh Ferris inspired attendees to continue the fight to end polio. The global scientific community stands in support of polio eradication Last month, over 3 000 leading scientists, physicians, and global health experts from over 115 countries launched the 2022 Scientific Declaration on Polio Eradication. The Scientific Declaration has reenergized the global community, sending a powerful message that eradication is still feasible and is needed now. In this reflective piece, declaration co-lead Dr Naveen Thacker (President-Elect, International Pediatric Association) describes his experience working to stop polio in India, and shares his firm belief that through vaccinating every child, eradication is within reach. The key to stopping polio outbreaks Dr Modjirom Ndoutabe (Polio Program Coordinator, WHO Regional Office for Africa) felt like the sky was falling when he learned of wild polio’s reemergence in Malawi. Only days later, GPEI experts landed in the country to implement a swift and critical door-to-door vaccination campaign. In this new piece, Dr Ndoutabe expresses his confidence that that through surveillance, vaccination and the dedication of the GPEI, the virus will finally be stopped for good. POLIO IN NUMBERSWild Poliovirus in 2022 (2021)* Global Total: 29 (2) Circulating Vaccine Derived Poliovirus in 2022 (2021)* Global Total: 449 (434) *Data as of 26 October 2022. Numbers in brackets represent data at this time in 2021. Breakdown by country Polio this week DONOR UPDATE At a challenging time for countries around the world, governments and partners have stepped forward to demonstrate their collective resolve to eradicate the second human disease ever. In addition to existing pledges, new commitments to the 2022-2026 Strategy this fall include: Australia pledged Au$ 43.55 million POLIO IN THE NEWSBloomberg: Just one case of polio is a global threat (Editorial, 27 October 2022) The Financial Times: Polio returns to the US after decline in vaccine uptake. (Jamie Smyth, 24 October 2022) AFP: $2.6 Bn Pledged In Global Push To Wipe Out Polio But More Needed (18 October 2022) Bloomberg: Gates pledges $1.2 billion to speed end of crippling virus. (Jason Gale, 16 October 2022) Tagesspiegel: "Confident we can keep to schedule." (Dana Bethkenhagen, 6 October 2022) Rotary International: A new weapon against polio. (Jason Keyser, 5 October 2022) PHOTO OF THE MONTH Global leaders commit US$ 2.6 billion at World Health Summit to end polio.     |
