Latest news with #PolioEradicationInitiative
LeMonde
3 days ago
- Health
- LeMonde
Fight against polio uner threat by withdrawal of US funding
For years, many experts described the eradication of poliomyelitis as imminent. A recent series of setbacks, however, is now compromising efforts to defeat the disease. More commonly known as "polio," the disease can cause fever, headaches, vomiting and, in about one out of every 200 infections, irreversible paralysis. Archival footage of enormous iron lungs taking over immobilized children's paralyzed respiratory muscles has etched the disease in the collective imagination as an affliction from another era. Budget cuts, a resurgence of cases in several countries and a global decline in childhood vaccination have created strong headwinds for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), which was launched in 1988 to put an end, once and for all, to this highly contagious disease. Before the advent of vaccination in the 1960s, polio caused more than 600,000 cases per year, mainly among children. "The idea was to repeat what was done with smallpox, which was eradicated for good in 1980," said Maël Bessaud, director of the National Reference Center for Enterovirus and Parechovirus at the Institut Pasteur in Paris.
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Health
- Business Recorder
Commitment to eradicating polio by finalising ‘Road to Zero' strategy reaffirmed
LAHORE: The national and provincial leadership has reaffirmed its commitment to ending polio in Pakistan by finalizing a comprehensive 'Road to Zero' strategy during a two-day National Polio Management Team (NPMT) meeting, which concluded here on Saturday. The meeting was chaired by the Prime Minister's Focal Person on Polio, Ms. Ayesha Raza Farooq, and attended by Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) coordinators from all four provinces as well as representatives from Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). Senior officials from the federal government, partner agencies, and development organizations were also present. Presiding over the meeting, Ms. Ayesha Raza Farooq paid rich tribute to the frontline polio workers, acknowledging their unwavering dedication despite persistent challenges such as refusals, misinformation, and access issues in high-risk areas. 'Despite the odds, our frontline workers are doing a remarkable job. The NPMT has provided all stakeholders an opportunity to openly discuss and deliberate on the challenges facing the programme and strategize actionable solutions,' she remarked. While expressing concern over the evolving epidemiological trends, the PMFP noted that although serious challenges remain, substantial progress has been made in areas such as surveillance quality, campaign performance, and risk communication. She called on all stakeholders—including government departments and international partners—to work with renewed commitment and collaboration. 'This year, we will approach things differently. Out-of-the-box solutions must be applied to reach every missed child and eradicate polio once and for all,' she stated. Ms. Farooq emphasized the critical importance of the pre-campaign phase of Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIAs) to ensure successful outcomes and lasting impact. She also highlighted the growing synergy between the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) and the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), terming it a pivotal element for polio eradication. Addressing specific regional challenges, she urged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) team to intensify efforts to overcome security-related barriers, particularly in South KP, which remains one of the most challenging zones for the programme. While maintaining focus on traditional polio hotspots and virus reservoirs, the PMFP cautioned stakeholders not to neglect other areas that currently appear stable. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
