In 1988 the
international community aimed to eradicate polio globally. A similar thing had
been done once before with the eradication of smallpox in 1974 (Devex, October 27, 2015). Consequently
polio cases were reduced by 99.9%. Only Afghanistan and Pakistan are still
reporting cases of the polio virus, but these are fewer and fewer.
Now the World Health
Organization (WHO) will concentrate on reducing tuberculosis (TB) from 2016 to
2030 by 90%. What lessons can WHO learn from the eradication of polio?
Polio eradication had
specific targets, with specific indicators to measure success – which were
monitored regularly.
Polio eradication had
traditional methods for reducing the spread, but it also learned to innovate and try new techniques.
Polio eradication
involved local communities and trusted social influencers to champion the
cause, educate and advocate, as well as monitor progress, and deliver the
vaccines. Local community leaders served their own and adjacent communities so
they were knowlegeable about the region, the parents and their children.
Polio eradication
involved quality research to help understand local attitudes towards the
vaccine, the vaccinators, and the program. This research not only helped to
improve the vaccine, but to deliver the vaccine in a way that met cultural
needs.
Polio eradication had
the support of governments which campaigned to eliminate the disease.
They also put in place administrative controls, quality controls, and
accountability mechanisms.
Polio and smallpox are
not quite eradicated as outbreaks still occur, but an ambitious TB program
could also get nearer its goal of eradication.
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