South-East Asia Region: Certified Polio Free

Dear All,

Today, on 27th 

March

 2014, 

 WHO’s 

South-East Asia 

R

egion is officially declared 

P

olio

-

 free. This is an opportunity to look at progress the region has made advancing children’s health, highlight the power of vaccines, and encourage continued political and financial support for polio eradication.

-- 

Today,

 1.8 billion people across 

11 countries are polio-free thanks to unprecedented commitment from governments, exceptional program quality, and the dedication of millions of community health workers and volunteers.

   

o In 2007, there were approximately 

900

 polio cases in SEAR – 

68% of all polio cases worldwide. The region has not reported a case since 2011.

  

o Between 1995 and 2013, the polio program conducted at least 

189 nationwide polio campaignsand administered more than 

13 billion OPV doses across the region.

  

o India, once deemed the most difficult place to end polio, recorded its 

last case in January 2011 – a remarkable triumph that opened the door for the entire region to be certified polio-free.

  

o

 

More than 

3 million front-line workers across South Asia (India, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh) provided oral polio vaccine to children under 5.

--

 Ending polio in these countries—some of which have been polio-free for more than 15 years—forged strong systems that are now being used to advance other health priorities.

  

o In several countries, 

high-performing polio surveillance systems have been expanded to track other vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, neonatal tetanus, and Japanese encephalitis.

 

o In Bangladesh, immunization coverage for essential vaccines (diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis) rose from

82% to 96% between 2000 and 2012, in a period of intense polio eradication activity; in Nepal, the rate went from 

74% to 90%.

-- 

In order to protect gains against polio, we must remain committed to 

improving routine immunization and maintaining sensitive surveillance.

  

o

 

Recent outbreaks in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa—both linked to virus from endemic countries—are proof that as long as polio exists anywhere, it is a threat everywhere.

Regards,

Dr. Naveen Thacker