HEALTH: Polio resurfaces

On the occasion of World Polio Day, 25 Civil Society Organizations have warned of the diminishing impact of global efforts to eradicate polio, especially in developing countries.

In fact, an epidemic has just been declared in 3 regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo and polio remains endemic in countries such as Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan.

As polio has not been completely eradicated in the world, this disease has resurfaced in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the health and vaccination system is not strong, which does not protect populations traveling for various reasons.

Interventions must be stronger than ever, because of the remaining pockets of viruses that can lead to the creation of new risk areas, if the disease is not eradicated completely. "The political crisis in the three countries, leading to significant migration between countries, is indeed a real risk of spread," said Ferdinand TABI of Provaressc, Cameroon.

What also worries the various actors is that the financing of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative is coming to an end in 2020, resulting in a drastic reduction in resources. This transition poses a threat to the health systems of many countries, with funding for polio eradication being their main support for the last decades.

Thus, as Mrs. Solange KONE of FENOSCI said, "all the States must give themselves the means to put in place the surveillance and the routine vaccination to stay the course, so that the world finishes definitively with this disease".

The results are encouraging, 16 million cases of paralysis and 1.5 million deaths worldwide due to poliomyelitis have been avoided. We therefore encourage all those who can support current efforts and help create a polio-free world by donating to Rotary International via endpolio.org. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will triple donations (up to $ 50 million each year) for the next two years.

The 33 days from October 11 to November 12 include important moments for vaccination. The International Girl's Day, the World Poliomyelitis Day and the World Day Against Pneumonia are excellent opportunities to put pressure on our governments for increased funding for immunization.

Countryside "33 days to Power Up Immunization" is an initiative of the Niyel agency that started in 2017. This campaign aims to enable Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and other actors involved in immunization activities to engage policy makers or the media, for a better investment in immunization and accountability in Africa. Through the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP), the Addis Ababa Declaration on Immunization and the national commitments made by their political leaders, these organizations use this period to badess progress towards universal access to vaccination.

As always, vaccination is the key!

Signed by

1. Benin: Joseph The Worker Foundation

2. Cameroon: PROVARESSC

3. Congo: Social Medico Mutual Aid Association

4. Ivory Coast: NGO Agis and FENOSCI

5. Guinea: POSSAV

6. Ghana: Concern Health Education Project and Muslim Family Counseling Services

7. Mali: FENASCOM

8. Mauritania: ADFFE

9. Nigeria: Community Health and Research Initiative, Care and Development Center, NIWAAFA, and Coalition on Vaccines, Vitamins and Immunizations for All Nigerians

10. Sierra Leone: Children Advocacy Forum, Focus 1000 and Pikin-to-Pikin

11. UgandaCommunity Restoration Initiative Project

12. Zambia: Zambia Civil Society Immunization Platform and ALEJO Community Support

Project

13. Kenya: KANCO

14. Senegal: AFRIVAC Foundation

15. Liberia: Public Health Initiative and Liberia Immunization Platform

16. Haiti: PhaRev

17: Global: CoMo

18: Niyel