The Sixty-first session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean took place in Tunis, Tunisia, on 19–22 October 2014, adopting a number of new health initiatives, action plans and resolutions. Eradication of poliomyelitis was on the agenda.
The objective was to discuss collective actions which need to be taken to reduce the threat of the spread of wild poliovirus to Member States and to finally eradicate the disease from all countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Transmission of wild poliovirus in the Region is currently the greatest threat to the achievement of global polio eradication.
- constraints in accessing all children with the vaccine, whether due to bans on immunization, insecurity or conflict
- achieving a high quality immunization and surveillance activities through effective accountability for government at all levels and partners
- achieving and maintaining the highest possible level of political and community commitment to eradicating polio
- securing the resources necessary to make the Region to polio-free.
The continued transmission of wild poliovirus in countries of the Region constitutes a major risk to the achievement of global polio eradication. It is a collective problem requiring collective solutions. A coordinated international effort by countries, WHO and partners is needed in order to eliminate the risk of polio forever.
Progress report
EM/RC61/INF.DOC.1
Progress report on eradication of poliomyelitis
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