Friday, December 16, 2011

Jabs without needles?

A needle-free injection device is trialled in Cambodia

Friday, December 16, 2011

Saudi Arabia funds put in play

Polio vaccination campaigns in Niger

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Amitabh Bachchan launches new Polio Communication Campaign

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Polio Eradication appealed parents and caregivers to take advantage of this rare opportunity to “make polio history in India”.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

United by a purpose across borders

South Sudan and Sudan conduct polio vaccination campaigns

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Cricket stars and theatre troupes promote a polio-free India

The Indian Government and the GPEI are working to ensure the country's ongoing commitment to polio eradication

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Polio campaign prior to presidential campaigns

The Democratic Republic of the Congo holds vaccination campaigns in early November, avoiding any disruptions due to the country's presidential elections

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Pakistan announces sweeping changes to polio eradication effort

Prime Minister puts in place urgent measures to address drastic rise in new cases; appoints new Polio Focal Point to oversee effort

Friday, November 25, 2011

Yemen protects its children from polio

Mass polio vaccination campaign to prevent outbreaks

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

'Game changers' needed to reach global immunization targets

Tuesday, November 01, 2011

Wishing I could play

Children's art competition in Quetta

Monday, October 31, 2011

Over $100 million in pledges for polio eradication at Commonwealth meeting

Australia leads the charge joined by Canada, Nigeria and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

français[pdf]

Saturday, October 29, 2011

China's all-out fight against polio

Immunizing over 9 million

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Rotarian polio survivor takes advocacy work to Afghanistan and Australia

Ramesh Ferris, Canadian Rotarian and polio survivor, travels to Australian and Afghanistan to advocate for polio-free world.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

F1 World Champion Fernando Alonso appeals for a polio-free India

As country maintains pressure on the poliovirus through the high season

Monday, October 24, 2011

World Polio Day

The Last Percent

français [pdf]

Monday, October 24, 2011

Mathematical modelling for polio

Helping identify countries at risk of outbreaks

Sunday, October 23, 2011

On World Polio Day, UNICEF launches new website focusing on global immunization strategies

Social data is 'invaluable

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Saudi Arabia delivers first half of its US$30 million commitment

Joining the effort to bring about a polio-free world

Monday, October 17, 2011

World Polio Day energizes polio eradicators

Volunteers around the world prepare for World Polio Day

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Response to polio in midst of Horn of Africa drought

Polio eradication efforts coordinated with broader health agenda

Wednesday, October 05, 2011

Immunization leadership challenge for Nigeria's governors

States eligible for US$ 500,000 grant to address pressing health issues

Sunday, October 02, 2011

Islamic countries emphasize the urgency of stopping polio

The Astana Declaration calls for funding and political commitment

Friday, September 30, 2011

Polio eradication in Afghanistan: intensifying efforts to reach children in Southern Region

Friday, September 30, 2011

Religious leaders engage for polio-free DR Congo

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Saudi Arabia delivers US$10 million toward polio eradication efforts

For seven countries in west Africa and Horn of Africa

Thursday, September 22, 2011

China responds to outbreak of polio

Children and adults all vaccinated

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Sanofi Pasteur donates vaccine strain used for polio eradication to WHO

Sanofi Pasteur has donated to the World Health Organization (WHO) a vaccine seed-strain used for the production of oral polio vaccine (OPV). The type 3 polio seed-strain is the original viral seed used to produce large quantities of OPV against type 3 poliovirus.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Polio spreads from Pakistan

Intense outbreak in Pakistan, related cases in China

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Twenty years without polio in the Americas

It has now been 20 years since the last case of indigenous wild poliovirus was reported in the Americas

Wednesday, September 07, 2011

The polio eradication family mourns its own

No intention of curtailing operations in Nigeria

Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Pioneering immunologist Sir Gustav Nossal supports polio eradication campaign

Sir Gustav Nossal – winner of the Albert Einstein World Award of Science and former Chairman of the WHO’s vaccines and biologicals program oversight committee – has added his support to the Global Poverty Project’s The End of Polio campaign.

Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Brick kiln chimneys spread polio messages in Bihar

Brick kiln workers tell of how polio eradication messages painted on chimneys in their workplace remind them to vaccinate their children

Monday, September 05, 2011

Challenges for the final 1%

Until there’s no polio in the world

Thursday, September 01, 2011

African Region makes good progress in polio eradication

Report to WHO Regional Committee meeting

Monday, August 29, 2011

Wild poliovirus confirmed in China

The Ministry of Health confirms wild poliovirus type 1 cases in China.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

CDC Director Tom Frieden Observes Polio Eradication Activities in India

Global polio eradication is a top priority for Dr Thomas Frieden, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Nigerian community leaders help track mobile populations

Myetti Allah, a social - cultural organization representing the Fulani ethnic group, is working with the GPEI to help reach migrant and mobile populations in Katsina State.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Following the yellow boat road

Circumnavigating Australia to raise money for polio eradication.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Polio kicked out of Europe

Polio kicked out of Europe: European Region to retain polio-free status, but constant vigilance is needed

Monday, August 22, 2011

Finishing my father's work

Oral polio vaccine creator's daughter, Debbe Sabin, shares her experiences of the polio eradication journey

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Rotarians don't shy away from a challenge…

…So when the Gates Foundation challenged Rotary International to raise US$200 million, they set to work with gusto.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Announce Partnership on Polio Eradication

4.9 billion Japanese Yen (JPY) loan from JICA to support polio eradication in Pakistan through 2013

Monday, August 08, 2011

Emergency vaccination campaign on the Somali-Kenyan border

Vaccination campaigns rapidly boost immunity of refugees vulnerable to outbreaks of communicable diseases.

Friday, August 05, 2011

"I asked my mother why I was disabled, and she told me I was not immunized"

The story of Aminu Ahmad, polio survivor and eradication advocate

Wednesday, August 03, 2011

Immunization helps prevent spread of disease during Horn of Africa crisis

UNICEF releases a series of videos documenting vaccination campaigns in Kenya.

Friday, July 29, 2011

'More than a goal'

FC Barcelona joins the fight to eradicate polio

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Before polio vaccine: snapshots of life in the shadow of polio

Before the introduction of polio vaccine, little could be done to prevent children becoming infected by polio. The following pictures and footage give a snapshot of life in the shadow of polio, in Canada in the middle of the twentieth century.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Why eradicate polio?

The End of Polio campaign starts spreading the word on the international effort to eradicate polio.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Romania Joins Fight against Polio

Funds Vaccinations for 40,000 Children

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Securing the gains: cross-regional collaboration in protecting polio-free areas

WHO and the CDC, China co-hosted an International workshop on polio eradication during 21-22 July in Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Turning the tide in Pakistan

Rotarians are in the forefront of the drive to implement Pakistan’s National Emergency Action Plan for Polio Eradication 2011.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Deadly serious' funding gap and need to implement strategies consistently

Independent Monitoring Board report 

Friday, July 15, 2011

Countdown begins in Angola

A special bulletin from the World Health Organization office in Angola on polio eradication activities in a country where the virus has re-established transmission.

Friday, July 15, 2011

"The worst drought in 60 years"

Thousands of people across the Horn of Africa are facing severe food and water shortages in what is being called "the worst drought in 60 years". At the same time, high food prices are amplifying the drought's impact.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Aggressive plans for eradication in India

With no polio cases in six months, it would be easy for India to become complacent. However, the Government of India is determined more than ever to mount a final push to ensure that polio is eradicated from India.

Thursday, July 07, 2011

Polio type 3 in Pakistan: only type 3 detected in Asia in 2011

Significant implications, as Asia is on verge of eliminating circulation of this strain.

Wednesday, July 06, 2011

OIC renews dedication to polio eradication

Discussion on Polio eradication at the 38th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers.

Thursday, June 30, 2011

India: new West Bengal Chief Minister calls to end polio now

Chief Minister Banerjee launches week-long immmunization drive in West Bengal.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Tachi Yamada, long-serving polio advocate at Gates Foundation, steps down as President of Global Health Program

Dr Tachi Yamada has stepped down from his position as President of the Global Health Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

IMB to convene in London to assess progress towards polio-free world

The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) will convene its third quarterly meeting in London, UK, on 30 June-1 July 2011.

Friday, June 17, 2011

The Polio 'Endgame'

Strategic vision for lasting polio-free world published in New England Journal of Medicine.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Risk of polio from Chad is high

Hajj-related travel may accelerate spread.

Wednesday, June 01, 2011

Nigeria triples number of children fully vaccinated

Advances made while running aggressive polio eradication activities.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Heads of G8 countries reaffirm commitment to polio-free world

Declaration at Deauville Summit underscores need for 'special focus' and 'renewed momentum'

Friday, May 27, 2011

WHO facilitates new polio vaccine technology transfer

As part of efforts to prepare for the polio post-eradication era, the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners have facilitated the development and transfer of new polio vaccine technology to vaccine production facilities in India and the Republic of Korea.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

U.S., Russia reaffirm commitment to eradicate polio at G8 Summit

Deauville, France- At the G8 Summit in Deauville, Presidents Obama and Medvedev recognized the collaborative efforts already underway between the United States and Russia to eradicate polio globally, and pledged to continue that cooperative until the eradication objective is finally achieved.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Eradicating polio will take renewed resolve, says Gates

In front of an audience of over 10,000 Rotarians, Bill Gates offers praise and caution.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Global health leaders express concern over polio funding gap

The global health community signalled strong commitment to polio eradication this week, underlining the financial needs to finish the job.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Polio goes to TED

The 'TED Talks' are well known for presenting "ideas worth spreading" – one of which is the incredible worldwide effort to eradicate polio.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Engaging with the polio-affected communities of eastern Chad

Global eradication of polio cannot be achieved without the support of the people living in polio-affected communities. A community forum, as recently held in three districts of eastern Chad, allows communities to ask questions, express concerns , make suggestions and take ownership of polio eradication.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

WHO Director-General and Bill Gates convene urgent meeting on polio eradication

One year after launch of new plan, infected countries and donors review effectiveness of strategies and agree on essential steps to finish the job quickly

Friday, May 13, 2011

Getting the “Last Hair” in Nigeria

The Hausa people have a saying: When you shave a man’s head, it is getting the last hair that is the most difficult. So it is with eradicating polio.

Friday, May 06, 2011

Gates Foundation issues a 'Grand Challenge'

Looking for studies that seek to provide solutions to some of the roadblocks encountered in polio eradication.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

IMB delivers frank assessment of progress towards polio-free world

Report highlights need for 'heightened attention' at all levels; calls funding gap 'single greatest threat'.

Monday, April 25, 2011

WHO updates polio immunization recommendations for travellers

To minimise the risks of acquiring polio (for travellers to infected areas) and of reinfection of polio-free areas (by travellers from infected areas), the World Health Organization (WHO) has updated its polio immunization recommendations for travellers in its publication, International travel and health 2011.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

It's Immunization Week

More than 180 countries across Africa, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific rim demonstrate their commitment to immunisation.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Rukhsar: one child triggers India's emergency response

Kolkata, 30 March 2011 — Rukhsar Khatoon takes one look at her visitors and tucks her face into her mother's shoulder, crying in fear.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Funding appeal for Côte d'Ivoire polio outbreak

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative has issued an appeal for US$ 10.5 million to respond to an outbreak of polio in Côte d'Ivoire, where three children have been paralysed by wild poliovirus type 3 (WPV3) since January. This is the first WPV3 found in Côte d'Ivoire since 1999 (the country was affected in 2008-2009 by the west Africa wild poliovirus type 1 – WPV1 – outbreak). Given that WPV3 paralyses approximately one in 2,000 people infected, these cases represent a much larger number of infections.

Friday, April 01, 2011

Kinshasa battles re-emergence of polio

Everyone in the capital city is vaccinated in response to a large polio outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This year, 10 of the 26 cases of wild polio virus in the country have been registered in Kinshasa.

Friday, April 01, 2011

Independent Monitoring Board holds first meeting of 2011

To assess progress towards polio-free world and measure developments against milestones set out in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative Strategic Plan 2010-2012, IMB members are presented with data and risk assessment.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Massive international effort to stop polio epidemic across west Africa

With west Africa on the verge of success, experts caution that complacency could breathe new life into outbreak

Friday, March 25, 2011

Angola steps up immunization drive in its efforts to eradicate polio

Vice President Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos launched the first of three rounds of a national polio immunization campaign planned for 2011.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

National Immunization Days keep Somalia polio-free

Four years since last recording polio, vaccination campaign sets out to reach over 1.8 million children across the country.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

World Bank to Help Nigeria Consolidate 95% Decline in Polio

New $60 million credit will support major immunization effort during a critical year.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

End Polio Now: Rotary lights up the world

Most people celebrate a birthday with cake - but not Rotary International. Living up to their motto, 'Service Above Self', Rotarians instead used the organization's 106th anniversary to spread the message about polio eradication.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

First polio immunizations of the year in southern Sudan

Juba, southern Sudan, 22 February – The first round of the 2011 Polio National Immunization Days in Southern Sudan begins this week and is expected to reach an estimated 3.1 million children. Thousands of vaccination teams will spread across Southern Sudan - a region the size of Eastern Europe - and administer two drops of the polio vaccine to all children under the age of five.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Polio eradication mourns loss of true polio champion

Bill Sergeant, former Chairman of Rotary's International's Polio Plus Committee and true polio hero, passed away on 13 February at his home in Tennessee, USA.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Fighting resurgent polio in the Congo

February 2011: In late 2010, a deadly polio outbreak struck the Republic of the Congo. It is the deadliest reminder in recent memory that unless eradicated, polio will spread internationally, with tragic human consequences. Mass immunizations are taking place to stop the outbreak.
View the photo essay

Friday, January 28, 2011

UK Government doubles polio funding in matching grant

Citing dramatic gains achieved with polio vaccines, Prime Minister David Cameron joins Bill and Melinda Gates to call on world leaders to finish the job

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

President of Pakistan kicks off emergency plan to stop polio

The only polio-endemic country where case numbers rose in the past year, Pakistan has developed a national emergency action plan that outlines area-specific strategies and accountability mechanisms.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Angolan government renews commitment to polio eradication

Global polio partners pledge support and urge continued action. Tachi Yamada of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation blogs his trip.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince contributes to vaccines for Pakistan and Afghanistan

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi joins the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to purchase and deliver polio vaccines for Afghan and Pakistani children and protect them from paralysis.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Concern over slow progress in OIC countries

The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) noted this weekend that the majority of polio cases in 2010 were in OIC member states and expressed concern over the slow progress in eradication efforts in some of these countries.

Friday, January 21, 2011

UNICEF and Gates Foundation join forces to support Angola in eradicating polio

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and UNICEF today announced that Mr. Anthony Lake, UNICEF Executive Director, and Dr. Tachi Yamada, president of the Global Health Program of The Gates Foundation, will arrive this weekend in Angola, where the government is poised to mount a renewed effort to halt an ongoing polio outbreak centered in Luanda.