Polio Eradication And The Strengthening Of Public Health, an article in Forbes Magazine
Polio’s defeat lies within reach.
Today, wild poliovirus (WPV) is endemic in just two countries with 12 existing cases between them: Afghanistan and Pakistan. Vaccination has eliminated the disease in every other country of the world. Vaccination campaigns aim to reach every child who remains unvaccinated in these countries — auguring a complete end to the transmission of WPV. The victory would make polio the second infectious disease, after smallpox, to be certified eradicated.
Among the many reasons to celebrate the polio eradication capstone is the creation of a durable polio infrastructure that can be integrated with national health systems to tackle other diseases and strengthen health emergency response systems.
For 35 years, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) has spearheaded a mass vaccination effort. Composed of national governments and partner organizations, this innovative international public-private partnership developed the knowledge, network and tools to conduct mass polio immunization campaigns. Rotary International, a GPEI founding member along with UNICEF, has played a distinct and integral role. Rotary’s advocacy, fundraising and community mobilization have made possible the immunization of 3 billion children since GPEI’s founding in 1988, when polio still paralyzed 1,000 children every day.
Read the rest of the article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/unicefusa/2024/02/08/polio-eradication-and-the-strengthening-of-public-health-systems/?sh=5512cac0322c
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