The two-day conference addressed key issues related to polio surveillance, immunization and eradication efforts, nationally and globally.The Kuwait First International Conference on Poliomyelitis Eradication was held on 28–29 October 2014 in Kuwait City. Though Kuwait has been polio-free since 1983, the country still remains at high risk of importation from polio-endemic countries. The conference was organized by the National Poliomyelitis Eradication Certification Committee and sponsored by the Ministry of Health, Kuwait.
The conference objectives were to:
- raise awareness about the National Poliomyelitis Eradication Certification Committee and its activities
- orient health care professionals on the WHO regional Poliomyelitis Eradication Initiative
- emphasize implementation of the poliomyelitis eradication decree
- brief the participants on the regional and national situation of poliomyelitis eradication
- discuss the progress of poliomyelitis eradication in Kuwait.
The conference aimed to acquaint clinicians and health care workers from diverse specialties including paediatrics, internal medicine, neurology, physiotherapy, orthopedics, family medicine and primary health care, prevention, nursing and laboratory services with their role in achieving polio eradication and on the post-eradication vaccination strategy globally and locally.
The theme of the conference was “Moving forward to eradicate poliomyelitis”. This reflects the ongoing commitment of the National Poliomyelitis Eradication Certification Committee and the Kuwaiti Ministry of Health in maintaining routine immunization, as well as implementing supplementary immunization activities and ensuring effective surveillance.
