New Delhi, Jan 13 || South-East Asia Region, home to a quarter of the world’s population, has marked 15 years since recording its last case of wild poliovirus, said the World Health Organization on Tuesday.
The region continues to sustain its polio-free status while harnessing innovations and lessons from the polio programme to accelerate broader public health progress, the global health body said.
“This extraordinary achievement followed unparalleled efforts and demonstrates what can be accomplished and sustained through unwavering government leadership, a dedicated health workforce, and strong partnerships, including with communities,” said Dr Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge, WHO South-East Asia Region.
“The journey from polio endemicity to sustained polio-free status demonstrates that ambitious public health goals are achievable,” Boehme added.
An 18-month-old girl, paralysed by wild poliovirus in West Bengal’s Howrah on January 13, 2011, was the last case of wild poliovirus reported in the Southeast Asia Region.
The case was followed by an extensive and intensive response that led to the WHO declaring the region polio-free on March 27, 2014.