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25 August 2009
Independent evaluation under way
Teams deployed to countries
THE work of the independent evaluation of the
major barriers to interrupting polio transmission is well underway, and team
leaders are expected to present their recommendations to the Oversight Committee
at the end of September. Five fully-constituted sub-teams have been formed, four
travelling to the remaining endemic countries - Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, and
Pakistan - with the final team considering issues relating to wild poliovirus'
international spread.
Sub-teams have already returned from their missions to Afghanistan, India and
Nigeria, with the missions of the Pakistan and international spread sub-teams
ongoing.
In each country, the missions are meeting with relevant Ministry of Health and
other government representatives, WHO and UNICEF, as well as relevant security
and aid organization staff. In Afghanistan, the teams visited the polio-infected
Jalalabad and Kandahar districts; in India, they travelled to Uttar Pradesh and
Bihar, including Ghaziabad, Patna and Khagaria (where they stayed overnight on
the Kosi River embankment). In Nigeria the team split in two, with some analysts
visiting Zamfara State and others visiting Kano, while in Pakistan, security
permitting, the focus will be on Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar.
The sub-team chairs will be meeting in mid-September to consolidate their
findings and prepare their report, which will be submitted to an Oversight
Committee by the end of September. This report will then be presented and
discussed at the relevant Technical Advisory Group meetings at global and
national level in the latter part of 2009.
The evaluation was requested by WHO's Executive Board in January, two years
after the start of the 'Intensified Eradication Effort'. It has been charged
with identifying area-specific solutions to the barriers to interrupting polio
transmission in each country.
The recommendations will lead to area-specific action plans which will be
incorporated into the 2010-2014 Strategic Plan of the Global Polio Eradication
Initiative.
More on the independent evaluation
10 August 2009
Nigeria completes vaccination campaigns with
trivalent vaccine
Nigeria has completed its most recent immunization campaigns on 4 August. While
Nigeria is the only country in the world with three types of poliovirus in
circulation (wild types 1 and 3, vaccine-derived type 2), initial reports from
the recent campaign indicate improvements, tallying with the progress the
country has made in significantly reducing transmission of type 1 wild
poliovirus.
In the high-risk northern states of Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and Jigawa, no type 1
cases have been reported in the past six months. Type 1 polio is considered the
most dangerous serotype for its high paralytic attack rate and propensity for
geographic spread. By 25 August 2009, Nigeria had recorded 70 cases of type 1
polio, compared with 547 cases at the same time in 2008.
At the same time, response continues to outbreaks of type 3 wild poliovirus -
now on the wane - and circulating type 2 vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV).
Nigeria has witnessed an increasing number of polio cases due to a type 2 cVDPV.
Circulation of this serotype is of particular international concern as the last
case of polio due to a type 2 wild poliovirus was in 1999. In response to these
risks, Nigeria has conducted nationwide polio supplementary immunization
activities (SIAs) with trivalent OPV in May and August.
The primary risk in Nigeria remains type 1 wild poliovirus, followed by type 3.
Background on
vaccine-derived poliovirus in Nigeria.
05 August 2009
President Zardari of Pakistan receives Polio
Eradication Champion Award
Recognising his personal leadership and direct engagement with
the polio eradication program
PAKISTAN President Asif Ali Zardari has been
presented with the Polio Eradication Champion Award by Rotary International to
honor his contribution to the polio eradication effort and his country’s
dedication to a polio-free world.
The award, presented by Rotary’s International PolioPlus Committee Chair Robert
Scott, was established in 1995 and is the highest award Rotary awards to honor
heads of state, health agency leaders and others who have made significant
contributions toward polio eradication.
“On behalf of 1.2 million members worldwide, including more than 5,100 members
of Rotary clubs in Pakistan, I am honored to recognize the commitment of
President Asif Ali Zardari, for his outstanding support of a polio-free world,”
said Scott.
Under the leadership of President Zadari, direct political engagement and
oversight of polio eradication activities has increased substantially. He has
worked closely with Prime Minister Gilani and the Ministry of Health to
implement effective measures regarding polio, and ensure that the children of
Pakistan are protected through polio vaccination.
In his efforts to eliminate polio from Pakistan, President Zadari has worked to
gain the support of local elders and Ulema in tribal areas where it is difficult
to operate due to conflict. He has also strived to ensure the safety of mothers
and children during vaccination days.
Other leaders who have been honored with Rotary’s Polio Eradication Champion
Award include Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, former Great Britain Prime
Minister Tony Blair; India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh; Nigeria President
Yar’Adua, former United States President Bill Clinton, and former UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Full story.
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