Afghanistan Archives - Our Rotary Mojo

Polio remains endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan

by PDG Scott McLaughlin | Sep 9, 2023 | Terry's Polio Eradication Update

No new Wild Polio cases reported this week. We are now 7 weeks since the most recent reported Wild Polio Case – on 7/20/23 in Pakistan. Intensified efforts continue to be implemented in Pakistan, particularly in the southern area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to urgently eradicate the remaining endemic WPV1 transmission.

What is that Polio Picture? Endemic Countries. Polio remains endemic in two countries Afghanistan and Pakistan. Until poliovirus transmission is interrupted in these countries, all countries remain at risk of importation of polio, especially vulnerable countries with weak public health and immunization services and travel or trade links to endemic countries.

This year, each Rotarian is encouraged to make a personal donation (of a size dictated by their financial situation) to the PolioPlus Fund by World Polio Day. And for Club leaders to make sure each donation is recognized as Paul Harris or Major Donor credit.

A Win Against Polio is a Win for Global Health!

2023 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Cases – 245 Benin – 3, Burkina Faso – 2, Burundi – 1, Central African Republic – 11, Chad – 33, Cote d’ Ivoire – 2, DR Congo – 136, Guinea – 1, Indonesia – 3, Israel – 1, Kenya – 5, Madagascar – 13, Mali – 6, Mozambique – 3, Nigeria – 19, Somalia – 2, Tanzania – 2, Yemen – 2, Zambia – 1.

New Polio Cases & Samples This Week –

Pakistan: five WPV1 positive environmental samples
Central African Republic: one cVDPV2 case
Chad: four cVDPV2 cases
Dr Congo: six cVDPV2 positive environmental samples
Nigeria: one cVDPV2 positive environmental sample
Yemen: one cVDPV2 case

2022 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Case Total – 912 Afghanistan – 43, Algeria – 3, Benin – 11 (3 in 2021), Burundi – 1, Cameroon – 3 (3 in 2021), Central African Republic – 6, Chad -44 (0 in 2021), DR Congo – 507 (28 in 2021), Republic of Congo – 1, Eritrea – 1, Ethiopia – 1, Ghana – 3, Indonesia – 1, Israel – 1, Madagascar – 14 (13 in 2021), Malawi – 4, Mali – 2, Mozambique – 22 (2 in 2021), Niger – 16 (18 in 2021), Nigeria – 48 (415 in 2021), Pakistan – 8, Somalia – 5 (1 in 2021), Sudan – 1, Togo – 2, United States – 1, Yemen – 162 (69 in 2021).

2021 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Cases -689 in 22 Countries.

2020 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Cases – 1,113 in 26 countries in 2020.

Quote of the Day

“It is not enough, as people of action, to simply avoid making war. If we are to Create Hope in the World, we must aggressively wage peace.”

— Gordon McInally, President, Rotary International

The Final Two Polio Endemic Countries:

Pakistan

as of 9/9/2023

0 new Polio cases reported this week. The most recent cases had an onset of paralysis on 7/20/23.
5 WPV1 and 0 CVDPV2-Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Afghanistan.
2 Wild Polio cases – 2023
20 Wild Polio cases – 2022
1 Wild Polio case – 2021
84 Wild Polio cases – 2020

Afghanistan

as of 9/9/2023

0 new Polio cases reported this week. The most recent cases had an onset of paralysis on 6/10/23.
0 WPV1 and 0 CVDPV2-Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Afghanistan.
5 Wild Polio cases – 2023 (all from Nangarhar Province)
2 Wild Polio case – 2022
4 Wild Polio cases – 2021
56 Wild Polio cases – 2020

Our Goal is Global Polio Eradication!!

Terry Ziegler, Polio Update Newsletter Editor Rotary Region 36

Polio program provides assistance to Measles effort Afghanistan

by PDG Scott McLaughlin | Apr 10, 2023 | Terry's Polio Eradication Update

What is that Polio Picture? The Polio program provides vital assistance to Measles effort in Afghanistan.

With more than twenty years’ experience on the ground in Afghanistan, WHO’s polio eradication programme continues to leverage its extensive operational capacity to deliver better health outcomes for all Afghans, including providing vital support to the recent nationwide measles vaccination campaign.

Measles outbreaks were reported across Afghanistan throughout 2022, with more than 5,000 cases and an estimated 300 deaths reported by November. Complications from the measles virus include severe diarrhea and dehydration, pneumonia, ear and eye complications, encephalitis or swelling of the brain, permanent disability and death. Most cases are children under the age of 5 years. Like Polio, there is no treatment for measles, the only reliable protection is vaccination.

While a series of sub national measles vaccination campaigns took place in 2022 reaching approximately three million children in 141 districts, the nationwide campaign from November 26 to December 5 represented the first national measles drive since the political transition in August 2021. The campaign covered 329 districts in all 34 provinces, vaccinating 5.36 million children aged between from 9 to 59 months against measles. 6.1 million children between 0 to 59 months received oral polio vaccine.

WHO’s polio eradication program has significant reach in Afghanistan, with a presence in every district in the country. The polio program leveraged this presence to recruit vaccinators, organize vaccination sites, and train campaign staff. With longstanding relationships with local authorities, the polio program assisted in the selection of local schools, clinics, or mosques to serve as vaccinations sites. The program’s established relationships with health institutions and communities enabled polio staff to recruit local health workers and other staff to fill the roles of measles vaccinators and provide training. Sharing their experience of implementing polio vaccination campaigns helped measles vaccinators prepare and plan for the task ahead.

The detection of measles cases and collection of data by WHO’s extensive polio surveillance network also played a crucial role in providing evidence-based planning for the campaign. WHO’s polio program also provided logistical support, transporting measles and polio vaccines, ensuring the cold chain was maintained and vaccines were delivered to every district. Polio staff played additional roles in campaign monitoring and supervision.

“Measles is a highly contagious disease. WHO Afghanistan is very proud of its work immunizing and protecting children against both measles and polio in this campaign,” said Dr Luo Dapeng, WHO Representative in Afghanistan. “I am very grateful to all health workers, partners and donors who made this possible.”

World Immunization Week – April 24-30, 2023

A Win Against Polio is a Win for Global Health!

One new (2023) Wild Polio case reported this week. We are now 4 weeks since the most recent reported Wild Polio Case – on 2/20/22 in Pakistan.

2023 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Cases – 31, Benin – 1, Central African Republic – 5, Chad – 4, DR Congo – 10, Indonesia – 3, Israel – 1, Madagascar – 5, Nigeria – 1, Somalia – 1.

New Polio Cases & Samples This Week – Afghanistan – 1 WPV1 Sample, CAR – 5 cVDPV2 Cases, Chad – 2 cVDPV2 Cases, DR Congo – 7 cVDPV2 Cases + 3 cVDPV1 Cases, Madagascar – 3 cVDPV1 Samples, Nigeria – 2 cVDPV2 Samples.

2022 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Case Total – 838 Afghanistan – 43, Algeria – 3, Benin – 11 (3 in 2021), Burundi – 1, Cameroon – 3 (3 in 2021), Central African Republic – 5, Chad -44 (0 in 2021), DR Congo – 461 (28 in 2021), Republic of Congo – 1, Eritrea – 1, Ethiopia – 1, Ghana – 3, Indonesia – 1, Israel – 1, Madagascar – 14 (13 in 2021), Malawi – 4, Mali – 2, Mozambique – 21 (2 in 2021), Niger – 15 (18 in 2021), Nigeria – 48 (415 in 2021), Pakistan – 8, Somalia – 5 (1 in 2021), Sudan – 1, Togo – 2, United States – 1, Yemen – 162 (69 in 2021).

2021 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Cases -689 in 22 Countries.

2020 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Cases – 1,113 in 26 countries in 2020.

Quote of the Day

“I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures“

— Lao Tzu