Brief description of major polio eradication meetings

The intercountry meetings of directors of poliovirus laboratories in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

The intercountry meeting of directors of poliovirus laboratories in the Eastern Mediterranean Region was conducted to review the poliovirus laboratories performance, to provide technical information on issues related to the global polio eradication programme and to develop recommendations for further improvement in laboratory performance

In this meeting, responsible officers from national poliovirus laboratories of the Eastern Mediterranean Region are invited, along with adviser from Global Specialized Poliovirus Laboratories, who presented and discussed topics related to poliovirus laboratory network performance.

The meetings of the Regional Commission for Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication (EM/RCC)

The objectives of the EM/RCC Meetings are to review the certification reports submitted by the countries to the Regional Certification Commission, to formulate recommendations for country / regional certification and to review progress toward regional certification and containment of laboratory stocks of poliovirus.

Regional Technical Advisory Group Meetings

The regional Technical Advisory Group was established to provide leadership for poliomyelitis (polio) eradication activities in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region. It advises countries on technical issues related to certification of polio eradication, such as immunization policies following certification. The regional Technical Advisory Group also advises to countries on regional polio eradication plans, in line with the Strategic Plan of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and on emerging issues, ways to address them and strategies.

Meetings are attended by regional Technical Advisory Group members, national representatives and partner organizations, both international and regional.

Country Technical Advisory Groups Meetings

The Technical Advisory Group (TAG) was established to review progress towards poliomyelitis (polio) eradication in specific countries, assess implementation of previous TAG recommendations, discuss planned activities and issue recommendations to address constraints facing national programmes in achieving their targets.

Meetings are attended by country-specific TAG members, national representatives and partner organizations, both international and regional.

Horn of Africa Technical Advisory Group meetings

The Horn of Africa Technical Advisory Group (HOA TAG) was established to review the situation and progress of poliomyelitis (polio) eradication in countries of the Horn of Africa, identify areas of concern and issue technical recommendations on appropriate strategies to ensure the interruption of wild poliovirus transmission in the Horn of Africa and neighbouring countries.

The HOA TAG meets annually. The meeting is attended by Technical Advisory Group members, technical advisors, national representatives and partner organizations, such as UNICEF, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Rotary International. It is also attended by representatives of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Yemen as Member States, and Chad and Tanzania with observer status.