Polio Eradication Initiative: Key Achievements FY 2001
An external review of USAID’s Polio
Eradication Initiative concluded that “USAID
has made a significant contribution to the global
polio eradication initiative and this contribution
is acknowledged and appreciated by partners
and by recipient countries.” In addition to supporting
NIDs and ongoing activities of the global
initiative, USAID’s polio eradication activities
were successful in the following areas:
U.S. PVO Involvement
USAID funds the
CORE Group of PVOs to provide subgrants to
19 U.S.-based NGOs working in Angola, India,
Bangladesh, Nepal, and Uganda. Seventeen of
the NGOs reported collaborating with national level
NGOs to increase polio immunization coverage
during NIDs, to improve social mobilization
and surveillance, and to use matching funds
to provide assistance to families with polio-affected
children. Sixteen NGOs detected and
reported AFP cases. Fourteen tracked zero-dose
children – one NGO in Bangladesh identified
13,502 zero-dose children in the first round of
NIDs and 9,079 in the second round.
Voice of America Collaboration
The Voice of
America (VOA) provides a steady supply of
programming targeted to countries where polio remains endemic. In 2001, VOA produced more
than 1,000 polio-related news reports, public
service announcements, feature stories, promotions,
and special programs. In the past three
years, VOA has broadcast more than 2,600
reports and sent 23 reporters to 22 countries
where they filed reports in 19 languages. VOA
reporters convey news about NIDs and report on
the polio eradication program, the human costs
of polio, and the impact of polio eradication on
health systems. They also interview polio eradication
personnel and counter rumors and misinformation
about polio and polio immunization.
“Days of Tranquility” and Safe Corridors in
Conflict Countries
In October and November
2000, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi
Annan called for “Days of Tranquility” in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to
ensure that children in conflict areas could be
immunized during immunization days. USAID,
the largest donor to polio eradication in the
DRC, was a major participant in negotiating the
Days of Tranquility. In early 2001, VOA’s
Pashto and Dari language coverage of polio
eradication efforts in Afghanistan encouraged
authorities to mobilize vaccination teams and
helped create safe corridors in regions of conflict
to allow vaccinators to operate safely.
Surveillance in Angola
In Cuanza Sul and
Cuanza Norte provinces and Ganda and Kuito
municipalities, CORE partners created an integrated
commission that investigates areas where
suspected AFP cases are reported. The commission
monitors the collection and shipment of
stool samples through radio contact. Active surveillance
is improving, and AFP cases are
detected sooner after the onset of paralysis than
they were previously. After two AFP cases were
detected in the first quarter of 2001, a supplementary
immunization day was conducted in
Ganda municipality. PVOs are working with
national and provincial health authorities to
improve stool sample collection and timely
communication of test results to the local level.
Future Perspectives
Substantial challenges remain in the coming
critical years. These challenges will likely affect
the time frame and costs of the global program.
Although many organizations continue to provide
funds and volunteers to the effort, these
contributions are not enough. Political commitment
is fragile in a few countries, and some
have become complacent and allowed the quality
of their programs to slip. Greater commitment,
resources, and funding from the international
community are needed.
Difficulties and costs vary. Reaching all children
under age 5 requires many vaccination
teams. While surveillance in Asia is improving,
in Africa it lags behind global standards, and
more surveillance officers and better surveillance
systems are needed. In view of the outbreak
of vaccine-derived poliovirus cases in the
Dominican Republic and Haiti in 2000, accelerated
research is needed to develop strategies for
stopping polio immunization, now expected to
take place no earlier than 2010.
Countries in conflict pose special difficulties.
Reaching every child during NIDs is a major
challenge. Despite Days of Tranquility, access
to some children remains limited, and large
numbers do not receive vaccine. In Angola, for
example, nearly one-third of the country’s children
are not accessible because of the country’s
civil war.
Maintaining momentum in the face of these
challenges is a priority for the polio partners.
USAID is committed to accelerating activities
and encouraging other organizations to continue
the progress achieved to date.
Overview FY 2001
Strategy and Interventions FY 2001
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