During the World Health Assembly, countries expressed concern about the increase in polio cases in 2022 and discussed strategies to strengthen routine immunizations, which were hampered by the pandemic and conflicts. Polio is currently the only official global public health emergency.
Afghanistan and Pakistan are the last two countries where the poliovirus is still endemic, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2022, Afghanistan reported two new cases, while Pakistan recorded 20. Pakistan has also reported a new case in 2023 but stated that it is making consistent progress in stopping the transmission of the virus.
The poliovirus is still present in 31 countries across three regions, posing a threat to the progress made in eradicating the disease over several decades. Germany emphasized the need for global cooperation, stating that everyone is only safe when everyone is safe. The United Kingdom urged countries to guarantee the safety of teams conducting routine immunizations, especially in countries where the poliovirus remains endemic.
Australia commended the work of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in Afghanistan, despite the challenges posed by the Taliban’s restrictions on women working for NGOs and UN agencies. Australia emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of frontline polio workers, especially women, to maintain high coverage and reach children with zero doses.
In some regions of Pakistan, the shortage of women healthcare workers has affected routine immunization efforts, creating blind spots in coverage. Pakistan acknowledged the persistent challenge in the Mehsud belt in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where no polio campaigns have been conducted for several months. The country indicated that it is focusing on securing entry and exit points to the belt, as well as areas around it that still face security concerns.
Iran, which borders Afghanistan, expressed worry about the flood of refugees brought on by the fighting and called it a difficult scenario. Iran also addressed vaccination access issues and asked the WHO to provide more assistance to its national laboratories.
