Member States guide direction for post-2023 polio transition

At WHO’s 152nd Council Meeting, Member States will provide guidance on shaping the next phase of the polio transition, integrating established tools and expertise for polio eradication to strengthen national health systems. We emphasized our continued efforts to strengthen

Significant progress has been made since the Strategic Action Plan for the polio transition 2018–2023 was presented to the World Health Assembly in 2017. Some countries, such as India, have successfully transitioned their polio programs to serve wider public health. In other countries, such as Sudan, the introduction of interdisciplinary integrated public health teams has provided an innovative pathway to reuse polio network skills. In 2022, the ‘proof of concept’ of the transition was further demonstrated by the successful transition of more than 50 low-risk countries in support of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

Building on this progress, a new global vision for the polio transition will be developed in 2023, underpinned by coordinated regional action plans and a revised monitoring and evaluation framework. The aim is to ensure that transitions remain responsive to changing global, regional and national health conditions. lesson learned.

At the 152nd session of the Council, Member States agreed that the Global Vision and Regional Action Plans should be aligned with polio assets to strengthen essential immunization, maintain high-quality, sensitive surveillance systems, and strengthen health security. proposed to focus on the migration of The UK noted the need to coordinate efforts with broader primary care approaches, while the US noted that robust surveillance is essential to sustaining a polio-free world.

Countries including Paraguay and India have stated that one of the focus areas of their post-2023 transition vision is to reach out to vulnerable populations, particularly the more than 25 million unvaccinated “zero-dose children”. Yemen noted that many of these children live in areas with lingering polio outbreaks. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to setbacks in routine immunization coverage around the world and a global call to action to reach out to underserved communities.

Member States also called for accelerating work to integrate polio capabilities with essential immunization systems, achieving eradication in the most difficult areas and laying the groundwork to prevent a resurgence of the poliovirus.

Dr Ahmed Al Mandali, Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, on behalf of WHO’s six regional offices, said: Amid the withdrawal of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. This is essential for maintaining a polio-free world. ”

Success will depend on the joint commitment of governments, WHO, partners and donors, including ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of the transferred functions.

Dr Zsusanna Jakab, Deputy Director-General of WHO, thanked Member States and said: An important lesson learned is that one size does not fit all. Transitions should be more nuanced, flexible, and contextual. ”

“The global vision aligns transition efforts with the evolving global health agenda, including pandemic preparedness, integrated disease surveillance, and health system recovery and resilience.”

This was the first opportunity for Member States to provide guidance related to the new vision and regional action plan. In the coming months, WHO will convene multiple stakeholders at global, regional and national levels to develop a shared vision for post-2023, underpinned by regional action plans, to promote strong and resilient health care. We support the realization of the system.