Media Statement by Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, World Health Organization, South-East Asia Region on one year polio-free certification of the Region.
On the first anniversary of polio-free certification of South-East Asia Region, WHO congratulates Member States for keeping polio at bay, despite the continued threat of poliovirus importation from polio-infected countries outside of the Region. Our focused and coordinated efforts must continue until this crippling disease is eradicated globally.
The world witnessed the Region’s momentous victory over polio on 27 March 2014. But barely a month later, on 5 May 2014, polio was declared a global public health emergency of international concern by the Director-General, WHO following its spread beyond the endemic Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan. The infected and endemic countries continue to pose a risk to the polio-free status of WHO South-East Asia Region.
Countries in the Region must continue to remain vigilant against poliovirus importation, improve and maintain population immunity against polio by enhancing the reach of their childhood immunization programme and through mass polio vaccination campaigns.
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar and Nepal are taking additional measures such as cross-border vaccination, while India has made polio vaccination, mandatory for travellers to and from the infected countries.
Countries of the Region are preparing for the Polio End Game Strategy, to introduce a dose of injectable inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) in childhood immunization schedules ahead of the proposed globally synchronized, phased and sequential withdrawal of oral polio vaccines. Nepal and Maldives have introduced IPV in their immunization schedule and other countries are expected to follow suit.
The WHO South-East Asia Region is committed to a polio-free world, to ensure no child ever feels the pain of this crippling disease.
Related links:
Polio-free certification of the World Health Organization South-East Asia Region