January 22, 2021
WHO's new Director of Polio Eradication, Aidan O'Leary takes over from Zaffran

WHO’s new Director of Polio Eradication, Aidan O’Leary takes helm

Jan 22, 2021 | Polio Eradication Update | 0 comments

Dear Polio Eradication Warriors,

 

no new Wild Polio cases reported this week.

What is that Polio Picture?  WHO’s new Director of Polio Eradication (on the right) takes over from Past Director Michel Zaffran (on the left) as of January 1, 2021.  Per Michel – Aidan O’Leary has tremendous experience, in both remaining wild poliovirus endemic countries, having led the OCHA office in Afghanistan and having been Chief of Polio Eradication in Pakistan for UNICEF. So he knows the challenges and realities involved. Eradicating the last remaining strains of wild poliovirus must be the overriding priority – success ultimately hinges on that.

A Win Against Polio is a Win for Global Health!

How Many Children have we saved from the paralysis of Polio?
That number has now reached 20 Million! That’s a number to celebrate and to share!

2020 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Cases – 926 – Afghanistan – 255 (0 in 2019), ,Angola – 3 (129 in 2019),Benin – 1 (8 in 2019), Burkina Faso – 56 (1 in 2019), Cameroon – 7 (0 in 2019), CAR – 4 (21 in 2019),Chad – 98 ((10 in 2019),China – 0 (1 In 2019), Congo – 1,    Cote d’ Ivoire – 71 (0 in 2019),DRC – 75 (86 in 2019),Ethiopia – 21 (11 in 2019),Ghana – 11 (18 in 2019), Guinea – 39 (0 in 2019), Mali – 28, Malaysia – 1 (3 in 2019), Myanmar – 0 (6 in 2019),  Pakistan – 110 (22 in 2019), Papua New Guinea – 0 (0 in 2019).  Niger – 8 (1 in 2019), Nigeria – 7 (18 in 2019) Philippines – 1 (16 in 2019), Sierra Leone – 3 (0 in 2019), Somalia – 13 (3 in 2019), South Sudan – 38 (0 in 2019), Sudan – 56,  Yemen – 28, Togo – 9 (8 in 2019),Zambia – 0 (2 in 2019).

361 Vaccine Derived Polio cases were reported in 2019.

Quote of the Day

Forgiveness is an absolute necessity for continued human existence.” – Desmond Tutu 

The Final Two Polio Endemic Countries:

 

Pakistan

 

 

0 new Polio cases reported this week.
84 Wild Polio cases – 2020. The most recent case had an onset of paralysis on 11/23/20.
147 Wild Polio cases – 2019. Ten Polio-Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Pakistan.

Afghanistan

 

 

0 new Polio cases reported this past week.
56 Wild Polio cases – 2020. The most recent cases had an onset of paralysis on 10/02/20.
29 Wild Polio cases – 2019.  No Polio-Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week in Afghanistan.

Our Goal is Global Polio Eradication!!

Terry Ziegler, Endowment/Major Gifts Adviser Rotary Region 26

By PDG Scott McLaughlin

District Governor 2019-2020
PDG Scott is currently serving as an Assistant Rotary Public Image Coordinator for Zone 29 (Region 36). Scott is a member of the Paul Harris Society and Major Donor.Scott is a Rotarian in the Kearney Dawn Rotary Club of Kearney, NE

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