Dr Ala Alwan, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, and Dr Bruce Aylward, Assistant Director-General WHO headquarters, will visit Afghanistan from 26–27 November 2012.

The main objective of this visit is to attend meeting of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on Poliomyelitis Eradication in Afghanistan. Prior to the TAG meeting, Regional Directors plans to hold an internal review meeting on polio eradication with WHO and UNICEF teams in Afghanistan on 26 November, 2012.

The Regional Director will also visit H.E. Dr Suraya Dalil, Minister of Public Health. and H.E. Dr Faizullah Kakar, Advisor to the President on Health Affairs and Focal Point for Polio Eradication to discuss the progress of the Polio Eradication Initiative in Afghanistan and the implementation of the National Emergency Action Plan for Polio Eradication.