Polio Control Programme VI

completed

In 1988, the international community agreed to eradicate polio. Between 1988 and 2012, the number of infections was reduced from 350,000 to 223 cases per year. At the same time, the number of endemic countries fell from 125 to three, including Nigeria. However, the battle to eradicate polio has not yet been won. Against this background, in 2012 the WHO gave the fight against polio in the last remaining countries the highest priority. In order to stop the transmission of the virus in the last three remaining endemic countries (in addition to Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan), the WHO and UNICEF developed a global strategy under the umbrella of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). The FC-funded program aims to help interrupt the transmission of the polio virus in Nigeria. It therefore contributes directly to the worldwide eradication of the virus. As in the previous phase V, the FC funds from program phase VI will be used to finance operational costs for the implementation and preparation of vaccination campaigns, and if necessary also for the procurement of vaccines. The target group is all children under five years of age in Nigeria, especially children in the high-risk states. By reducing or preventing polio infections in Nigeria and in the neighboring states, the program makes a direct contribution to achieving Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 4 (improving child health). The FC contribution for phase VI is EUR 10 million. In view of the existing funding bottlenecks, the intention is to make the FC funds available directly to WHO and UNICEF as early as possible, i.e. in mid-2014 - similar to phases IV and V. The funds will be used by WHO and UNICEF in coordination with the Nigerian executing agency for the implementation of the Nigeria Polio Eradication Emergency Plan (NPEEP) 2014. The programme proposal also includes a reserve of EUR 50 million to be used in subsequent phases to finance operational costs of the Nigerian Polio Emergency Plan 2015-2018.