World Polio Day is annually observed across the world on 24th October to highlight the importance of the efforts to eradicate poliomyelitis (polio), the infectious disease that commonly affects children aged under 5.
- This day serves as a platform to raise awareness about the ongoing efforts to eradicate polio and the importance of vaccination in protecting children from this disease.
- The first World Polio Day was observed on 24th October 2002.
Background:
World Polio Day was established by Rotary International(RI) to commemorate the birth anniversary of Jonas Salk, an American virologist who developed the first successful polio vaccines.
- Jonas Salk led the first team to develop a vaccination against polio and began its testing in 1953.
- Oral polio vaccine (OPV) – OPV produces antibodies in the blood and provides shield against all three types of poliovirus.
- Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) – It is an injectable vaccine and can be either administered alone or along with other vaccines (e.g., diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, and haemophilus influenza).
Significance of World Polio Day:
World Polio Day highlights several key aspects:
i.Various organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), organize events to educate communities about polio and the necessity of vaccination.
- They emphasize that polio primarily affects children under five years old, leading to paralysis or even death in severe cases.
ii.The day reflects on the progress made in eradicating polio since the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) was launched in 1988, when there were approximately 350,000 cases worldwide.
iii.The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the European Region polio-free in 2002.
iv.India was declared Polio free on 27th March 2014 by the WHO.
v.Despite significant progress, polio remains endemic in countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan, where vaccination coverage needs to be improved.
Children Affected by Polio in 2023:
i.In 2023, as per analysis by UNICEF, total of 541 children globally were reported to be affected by polio, with 85% living in 21 countries that are either fragile or conflict-affected.
ii.In 2023, there were reported cases of wild polio virus in several countries, with Pakistan recording 16 cases and Afghanistan reporting 14 cases.
iii.Countries like Mozambique and Malawi, which had previously eradicated polio, reported new cases—eight cases in Mozambique (2022) and one case in Malawi (2021). These incidents underscore the risks posed by vaccine-derived strains of the virus34.
v.Children in conflict zones, with 15 out of 21 such countries – including Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen – currently battling polio, face heightened risks due to disrupted healthcare systems and limited access to vaccinations.
About World Health Organization (WHO):
Director-General– Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland
Establishment– 1948
