Member States redouble commitments for a lasting polio-free world at RC71
15 October 2024 –The 12th meeting of the Regional Subcommittee for Polio Eradication and Outbreaks was held during the 71st session of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region’s Regional Committee, marking another crucial step in the region’s pursuit of a polio-free future. The session witnessed robust participation, with a high number of interventions from Member States and members of the Regional Subcommittee, each highlighting their individual and collective efforts to eradicate polio and ensure its lasting elimination.
During the session, participants acknowledged that while significant progress has been made in the fight against polio, several persistent challenges continue to impede the goal of eradication. Inaccessibility, extensive population movements, suboptimal campaign quality in certain areas, community fatigue, and the ever-present threat of insecurity and conflict remain major obstacles. These issues have prevented health workers from reaching every child with life-saving vaccines, particularly in conflict-affected and hard-to-reach areas across the Region.
In a statement delivered on behalf of the co-chair of the Regional Subcommittee on Polio Eradication and Outbreaks and Chair of the polio session Dr Hanan Al-Kuwari, a delegate from Qatar noted that despite the setbacks, the programmes in Afghanistan and Pakistan have shown resilience, continuously adapting and responding