Nigeria: Polio Control Programme X

completed

At the 41st World Health Conference in 1988, the global eradication of polio was set as an important goal. Today - 30 years later - we are close to achieving this goal. Under the umbrella of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), the number of infections has already been reduced by 99.9% (from an estimated 350,000 cases in 1988 to 22 confirmed cases in 2017) and the number of endemic countries has been reduced from 125 to three (Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria). Despite the global successes, the battle to eradicate polio has not yet been completely won. The current challenge is to reduce the remaining 0.1% of new infections. In order to sustainably interrupt the transmission of the virus, the global endgame strategy (Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2018), designed by WHO and UNICEF and continuously adapted to current developments, must continue to be consistently implemented worldwide. In Nigeria, extensive investments have already been made in the eradication of polio as part of the global polio eradication initiative, so that no new cases of polio caused by wild virus have occurred in the country since August 2016. However, the rapid population growth, the inadequate coverage through routine immunization in some areas and the precarious security situation in the north-east of the country represent risks for a re-emergence of the wild polio virus. The FC project Phase X to Combat Polio builds on the experience of the previous phases I-IX. The current content basis of the FC program phases is the Nigeria Polio Eradication Emergency Plan (NPEEP), which was developed by the Nigerian government in cooperation with WHO and UNICEF and is continuously updated. As in the previous phases, the FC funds from program phase X will be used to finance operational costs in implementing the NPEEP. This includes the implementation and preparation of special vaccination campaigns, monitoring measures, technical support, communication measures and transition activities to transform the emergency plan into routine programs. In addition, the procurement of vaccines, medical consumables and equipment can also be financed if required. The target group is all children under five years of age in Nigeria, and in particular the previously unreached and underserved children in the high-risk states and the Nigerian islands in the Lake Chad Basin. The funds will be used by WHO and UNICEF in coordination with the Nigerian executing agency, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), for the implementation of the NPEEP 2019 (and its sequels).