Polio Update

Two Polio Workers Killed in Garowe, Somalia - Four UNICEF colleagues were killed in the attack on a UN vehicle in Garowe, Somalia on 20 April. Among them were two staff working in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative - and for some, our cherished friends - delivering Polio, Routine Immunization and Communication programs in Somalia. Payenda Gul had been a polio eradicator since 1999, working to protect children in Afghanistan, Nigeria and Somalia. Brenda Kyeyune had joined the team in 2014, working to make sure communities are engaged in polio eradication. The commitment of these colleagues to achieving polio eradication and improving children’s lives was tested in the most challenging circumstances and they were never found wanting. They are true heroes. This is a tremendously difficult time but we are deeply thankful for their accomplishments, and remember them with respect and gratitude.

 

Rotary Books for the World Shipping Containers to be used for Polio Campaign  - Two shipping containers used to ship donated books from the Houston, TX based literacy project Rotary Books for the World, will be used as immunizations centers in Pakistan soon.  A total of 14 containers filled with books and teachers supplies have been shipped to Rotary Clubs in Pakistan since 2012, including eight to the Hashoo Foundation in Islamabad, five to Karachi, and one to Lahore.  The other containers have been used for medical clinics, libraries, community hospital support rooms, and for a canteen for children with special needs after the books were unloaded.

 

Iraq - A 5-day nationwide polio immunization campaign targeting 5.8 million children began in Iraq on 12 April. It is over a year since the last case of polio had onset of paralysis in Iraq, and the new campaign aims to vaccinate every child under 5 throughout the country.    
Africa - It has been over 8 months since the last Polio case was reported in Somalia,  over 9 months for Nigeria, and over 9 months for Cameroon.  If Nigeria can go 12 months with quality surveillance detecting no Wild Polio Virus, they will join the countries which have stopped Polio transmission.  If after an additional two years, no Wild Polio Virus has been detected, Nigeria could be certified as Polio - Free!   

 

A Polio-Free Pakistan - No new Polio cases reported in Pakistan this past week.  Strategies are focusing on clearly identifying reasons for missed children, and on strengthening independent monitoring to provide a clearer picture of immunization quality gaps.

 

The Final Three Endemic Countries:
Pakistan - 21 Polio cases reported in 2015 with 306 cases recorded in 2014  The most recent case was reported on 03/17/15 in the Khyber, FATA.    
Afghanistan - One Polio case reported in 2015 with 28 cases recorded in 2014. The most recent case was reported on 01/21/14 from the Hilmand Province.   
Nigeria - Zero Polio cases reported in 2015 with 6 cases recorded in 2014.  The most recent case was reported on 7/24/14.  Sub-National Immunization Days were completed on March 14-18 using trivalent vaccine.