Judith Diment, Leading Polio Advocacy in the UK tells us Advocacy is still important. No other organization gets the 2:1 match from the Gates Foundation.Because of COVID the world and our governments have a much better understanding of the importance of vaccination.
Because of our Polio program we know how to run a campaign and the importance of
- Viral transmission
- Vaccination - Reaching EVERY Child
- Contact tracing
- Building trust in the community
- Surveillance and testing
“Our voice remains VITAL to Complete the Eradication of Polio” Judith Diment
Aiden O’Leary Director of Polio WHO
- Number of cases of Wild Polio Virus (WPV) still at 2 compared to 140 last year
- Using new Novel Vaccine that is as effective but less likely to produce the acute flaccid paralysis that can occur with the old vaccine
- Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) has a updated the strategic plan from 2022-2026
- https://polioeradication.org/gpei-strategy-2022-2026/
DELIVERING ON A PROMISE
- Return polio to a public Health emergency
- A robust timeline – halt transmission by 2023 and then continue management to 2026
- Higher performance indicators eg look at gender of front line vaccinators to match the communities and build trust (Mainly women as Mothers primary caregivers of the children)
‘We owe it to the Children of the world to Prevent them from getting Polio, This crippling disease” Aiden O’Leary
As we begin our new Rotary Year:
We need to say A big thank you to the health care workers and the Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) in Pakistan and Afghanistan to reach EVERY CHILD even in the most remote places.
Thank you to everyone who gave a dollar to the program. That is the only way we will Eradicate Polio.