Health leaders and Ministers of Health at the WHO Executive Board (EB) have gathered at the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, to reaffirm their commitment to eradicating polio and building resilient health systems. The focus is on areas of complex emergencies, with a call for intensified efforts in endemic and consequential geographies.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, emphasized the continued intensification of efforts to eradicate polio. He reported a decrease in the number of wild poliovirus cases in Pakistan and Afghanistan, with the aim to interrupt transmission of wild poliovirus this year.

Member States highlighted the opportunity to eradicate remaining wild poliovirus type 1 endemic transmission, which is now limited to specific areas in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They urged for intensified efforts to reach all remaining un- or under-immunized children in those areas. Delegates also stressed the importance of combatting variant poliovirus outbreaks, particularly in north-western Nigeria, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, south-central Somalia, and northern Yemen.

Dr Hamid Jafari, Director for Polio Eradication in the Eastern Mediterranean, commended the innovative strategies and strengthened partnerships with humanitarian actors in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He also praised the work of the Regional Subcommittee for Polio Eradication and Outbreaks in carving out clear pathways towards protecting children in the region from polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

The gathering at the WHO Executive Board serves as a platform for global health leaders to reiterate their dedication to eradicating polio and strengthening health systems, particularly in areas facing complex emergencies. With a focused approach and intensified efforts, the goal of eradicating polio and building resilient health systems remains at the forefront of the global health agenda.