146th WHO EB Agenda Item 16.2: Polio transition planning and polio post-certification – Delivered by Dr. Sadre Alam, First Secretary
(Geneva, 3-8 February 2020) 146th WHO EB Agenda Item 16.2: Polio transition planning and polio post-certification – Delivered ..

146th WHO EB Agenda Item 16.2: Polio transition planning and polio post-certification – Delivered by Dr. Sadre Alam, First Secretary

Thank you Mr. Chair,

We welcome the agenda of transitioning of the polio programme assets to other public health programmes in order to capitalize on the polio resources without compromising on the polio activities essential for global eradication.

Utilizing the assets built and lessons learnt from polio-free certification processes, we have taken several initiatives to strengthen our immunization programme by means of Measles and Rubella elimination target of 2023, introduction of six new vaccines (Tetanus Diphtheria (Td), Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV) and Measles Rubella vaccine (MR), Rotavirus vaccine at the national level; Japanese encephalitis vaccine for adults, and Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) at the subnational level) and expansion of Vaccine Preventable Diseases surveillance.

We wish to express our sincere gratitude to WHO for its support in achieving polio free status and strengthening routine immunization through the NPSP. The increase in workload and importance of WHO-NPSP necessitate its retention not downsizing which will not only risk affecting the polio programme, but also immunization programme strengthening initiatives. We have prepared NPSP transition planning frameworks for 2018 – 2021 and 2022 – 2026. To bridge the gaps in global funding of WHO- NPSP, the Government of India is financially supporting its laboratory structure, premises rent, field staff remuneration and training inter alia.

Mr. Chair,

As global challenges remain with high numbers of cVDPV cases being reported, we urge for the continuation of global funding for polio and WHO-NPSP. It is critical for India and all countries across the world to sustain and strengthen gains made so far in polio eradication and the immunization programmes.

Thank you.