Somalia is again Polio free
Posted by Peggy Garland
March 25, 2008 -Somalia is again polio-free, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) announced today, calling it a "historic achievement" in public health.
The use of innovative approaches tailored to conflict areas was pivotal in stopping polio in the country. These included increased community involvement and effective use of monovalent vaccines to immunize children in insecure areas with several doses within a short period of time.
Somalia's last case of indigenous polio was in 2002. On July 12, 2005, the country was re-infected by poliovirus originating in Nigeria, resulting in an outbreak of 228 cases in total. Systematic and wide scale outbreak response activities, including intensive community engagement, successfully stopped the epidemic, and the last case was reported on 3/25/07. â?¦This repeated success in Somalia indicates the disease can be stopped in areas with no functioning governmentâ?¦.
"Somalia beat polio in the midst of more widespread conflict and poverty than that affecting Afghanistan and Pakistan," according to Dr. Maritel Costale, Senior Health Advisor, UNICAF New York.
Consistent financial commitment continues to be crucial to completing polio eradication. The global effort currently faces a shortage of $525 million for 2008-2009â?¦Rotary International, the top private sector contributor and volunteer arm of GPEI, has contributed $9.2 million for polio eradication in Somalia, and $700 million worldwide since 1985.
Somalia's last case of indigenous polio was in 2002. On July 12, 2005, the country was re-infected by poliovirus originating in Nigeria, resulting in an outbreak of 228 cases in total. Systematic and wide scale outbreak response activities, including intensive community engagement, successfully stopped the epidemic, and the last case was reported on 3/25/07. â?¦This repeated success in Somalia indicates the disease can be stopped in areas with no functioning governmentâ?¦.
"Somalia beat polio in the midst of more widespread conflict and poverty than that affecting Afghanistan and Pakistan," according to Dr. Maritel Costale, Senior Health Advisor, UNICAF New York.
Consistent financial commitment continues to be crucial to completing polio eradication. The global effort currently faces a shortage of $525 million for 2008-2009â?¦Rotary International, the top private sector contributor and volunteer arm of GPEI, has contributed $9.2 million for polio eradication in Somalia, and $700 million worldwide since 1985.