POLIO NEWS - July 2023
 download PDF POLIO NEWS July 2023 Dear polio eradication supporter, This past month, Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) leadership visited polio-affected areas in Pakistan, meeting with provincial and national leaders across the country to reaffirm commitments to eradicating this disease for good. Pakistan’s dedication to polio eradication remains strong, and leaders are confident that wild poliovirus transmission can be interrupted this year with support from communities and government officials. As one of the last endemic countries, progress in Pakistan is critical to progress globally. To assess the polio programme’s progress toward its strategic goals, the Independent Monitoring Board reviewed comprehensive data, heard from affected country leadership and analyzed current strategies at its meeting last month in Geneva, Switzerland. The Board’s ensuing report, to be released later in August, is an important accountability measure to ensure that the program remains on the correct path towards polio eradication. |
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Calling for increased vaccination in Africa This month, the Africa Regional Certification Commission (ARCC) held its 31st meeting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The meeting, which gathered health authorities from Chad, DRC, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mali, and Mozambique, called for countries and partners to urgently address gaps in polio immunization, and stressed the importance of gender equality in the fight to end polio. The region will continue to strategize towards a polio-free future at the upcoming 73rd Meeting of the WHO AFRO Regional Committee. Supporting polio eradication in Ukraine Dr Faisal Lodhi (Emergency Consultant, WHO Regional Office for Europe) is committed to protecting the people of Ukraine and neighboring countries from the devastating consequences of polio. Despite facing challenges of his own due to a multiple sclerosis diagnosis, Dr Lodhi remains dedicated to saving as many lives as he can by helping country teams respond to polio outbreaks swiftly and efficiently. Watch this video to see why Dr Lodhi has hope for achieving a polio-free Ukraine soon. The fight to end polio in Somalia For six years, the longest unbroken chain of variant polio transmission has been circulating through Somalia. To address this outbreak, the country developed the Somalia Emergency Action Plan, which includes the rollout of nOPV2, an innovative vaccine with the power to more sustainably stop these outbreaks. In addition, the country is prioritizing efforts to reach all children with vaccines, especially in communities that were previously out of reach due to social and political instability. Read on to learn about the other ways in which Somalia is making strides to close this lasting outbreak. |
POLIO IN NUMBERSWild Poliovirus in 2023 (2022)* Global Total: 6 (18) Circulating Vaccine Derived Poliovirus in 2023 (2022)* Global Total: 170 (186) *Data as of 25 July 2023. Numbers in brackets represent data at this time in 2022. Breakdown by country Polio this week |
POLIO IN THE NEWSVoice of America: WHO: Afghanistan, Pakistan Close to Eradicating Polio (Ayaz Gul, 31 July 2023) WHO EMRO: Extraordinary chains of coordination to detect poliovirus amidst Sudan’s conflict (23 July 2023) Dawn: IMB to release report on polio in Pakistan, Afghanistan. (Ikram Junaidi, 14 July 2023) The New York Times: Shot to protect against polio and five other diseases is approved by Gavi. (Emily Baumgaertner, 30 June 2023) |
DONOR UPDATESWHO would like to thank the Government of Canada for a Can$ 37.4 million contribution to WHO for polio eradication operations worldwide. This represents the last disbursement of a Can$ 100 million pledge announced by Canada in 2019. |
Join the MAKE POLIO HISTORY CAMPAIGNThe GPEI is launching a digital campaign, Make Polio History, to rally new and current champions to create a chorus of support for polio eradication. Through short, self-recorded videos, supporters from across the world will raise their voices and tell global leaders that eradicating polio is possible and urgently needed now. Join us here! |
PHOTO OF THE MONTH A child waits to receive vaccines during an integrated campaign, Mogadishu, 2022. © WHO/Mukhtar Sudani/Ismail Taxte |
