1. October 14, 2013
[WORLD POLIO DAY]
Word Polio Day is on October 24th
World Polio Day falls on 24th October. This is a day of reckoning of the scourge
called Polio, of all the bitter memories it has left in its wake, and the many lives
claimed by the disease. Yet, amidst the somber thoughts, the sweet taste of success
brought by focused global strategies in significantly cutting the rate of disease,
offers a glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel.
The world is on the verge of eliminating one of the most dreaded diseases of the 20th
century -- poliomyelitis. During the first half of the 20th century, polio crippled over a half
a million people every year. Even today, children in some developing
countries(Afgahnisthan,Nigeria,Pakistan) continue to fall victim to the disease. But
thanks to our concerted efforts, we are no more an endemic country,the disease will
soon be all but a memory.
Polio's last stand
It is almost three years that we had recorded a case of Poliomyelitis. Pulse polio immunization
has been hugely successful.
Although the cost is rather low, it takes a tremendous effort and dedicated organization in
order to get it where it is most needed. Today, only three countries remain where the polio
virus still makes victims, namely Aghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria.
District Immunization Officer,DoPHFW, KURNOOL
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2. October 14, 2013
[WORLD POLIO DAY]
The challenge to administer vaccines to every child are huge and the environment is hostile.
The Polio Eradication Effort strives to protect every children from this crippling disease

The number of endemic countries has finally been reduced, to three.

The number of cases so far is 175.
It is very likely that there will be fewer than 325 cases of polio this year. This is half the number
of 2011, and less than 0.1% of the 350,000 cases of 1988. This might no longer be the ‘last 1%’
of polio, but the last 0.1%.
Nevertheless, it is not time to rest on laurels, yet
More effort will be needed to one day, free this world from polio, for everyone, forever
The 24th of October has been chosen to commemorate the month in which Jonas Salk was
born. Jonas Salk was the leader of the team that invented the first polio vaccine in 1955.
Polio Eradication, the End Game
Polio Eradication, the End Game
Since its launch in 1988, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) has reduced the global
incidence of polio by more than 99% and the number of countries with endemic polio from 125
to 3. More than 10 million people are walking today who otherwise would have been paralyzed.
That is an amazing result. Nevertheless, there is still a threat to the global community of
ongoing poliovirus transmission in the last three endemic countries and the risk of circulating
vaccine derived polioviruses (cVDPV).
Hence, on May 26th of 2012, the World Health Assembly declared ending polio as a
“programmatic emergency for global public health” and the need for a comprehensive polio
endgame strategy.
The 4 main objectives of the endgame strategy are:

Stop all wild polio virus transmission by the end of 2014 and new cVDPV outbreaks
within 120 days of confirmation of the first case

Hasten the interruption of all poliovirus transmission and help strengthen
immunization systems

Certify all regions of the world polio-free and ensure that all polio-virus stocks are
safely contained

Ensure that a polio-free world is permanent and that the investment in polio
eradication provides public health dividends for years to come
District Immunization Officer,DoPHFW, KURNOOL
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3. October 14, 2013
[WORLD POLIO DAY]
The Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2018 (the Plan) was developed to
capitalize on this new opportunity to end all polio disease. It accounts for the parallel pursuit of
wild poliovirus eradication and cVDPV elimination, while planning for the backbone of the
polio effort to be used for delivering other health services to the world’s most vulnerable
children.
The Challenges, and the Way forward
World Polio Day is an opportunity for the global polio eradication community to renew its promise of a
polio-free world to future generations
Before celebrating this public health milestone, the spread of the poliovirus must be
interrupted in the poorest and most high risk populous regions of India, and surveillance must
continue for several years to be sure the virus is completely wiped out. This is no easy task. One
of the greatest challenges to the effort is a continued vigilance and not to succumb to
complacency. .
District Immunization Officer,DoPHFW, KURNOOL
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4. October 14, 2013
[WORLD POLIO DAY]
While tremendous progress has been made since 1988, pockets of wild poliovirus remain, leaving
unvaccinated children at risk of lifelong, irreversible paralysis.
We are closer than we have ever been to eradicating polio and it is critical that we take advantage of this
opportunity.
It is therefore imperative that we make this final push toward eradication one of our highest priorities. “If we
fail to get over the finish line, we will need to continue expensive control measures for the indefinite
future…More importantly, without eradication, a resurgence of polio could paralyze more than 200,000
children worldwide every year within a decade.”
Now is the time, we must not fail.
Not to fail we should focus on
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Timely and adequate immunization with Polio vaccine & other RI vaccines
Quality AFP and VPD surveillance
Strengthening and improving coverage of RI with provision of quality immunization services
Prioritized activity to cover migrant, marginalized and vulnerable high risk populations.
IEC/BCC package for Immunization
The World Polio Day Message
World Polio Day Message
It is imperative that all children receive polio immunization as per the schedule, which
will give them life-long protection against a debilitating disease. The overriding
message on World Polio Day is to spread the importance of timely
immunization against Polio for all children below 5, which is the only way to a polio
free world.
Moving forward in full throttle, this year too, will embrace the goals of polio
prevention with a concerted plan of action towards completely eradicating the
disease to plug the lacunae in high risk areas/populations, where despite
measures, polio can raise its ugly head.
District Immunization Officer,DoPHFW, KURNOOL
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5. October 14, 2013
[WORLD POLIO DAY]
As the world stands on the verge of victory over polio, it is important to recognize that
amazing things can happen when forces join together for a common good. You can join
the fight to end polio now by creating awareness on Poliomyelitis and other vaccine
preventable diseases and need to have timely, adequate immunization against all
vaccine preventable diseases and conduction of uninterrupted quality immunization
sessions as per the planned fixed day, fixed site roster in all your PHC coverage area,
thereby ensuring no child is missed for his/her vaccination.
If we can eliminate polio from the planet, dozens of other diseases could follow.
This is a historic moment, and one that is meaningful to people – especially
children – the world over.
Join the day and be a part of the history
District Immunization Officer,DoPHFW, KURNOOL
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