Chioma Obinna
21 October 2003
NIGERIA and six other countries have been urged to accelerate efforts to wipe out the disease even as Heads of state from 57 countries have adopted the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) decision to step up effort to eradicate polio in those countries. The renewed commitment from the OIC comes at a critical time for the eradication campaign when six out of the world's seven remaining countries that are still infected with polio are OIC Member States
These countries include Nigeria, Pakistan, Egypt, Afghanistan, Niger and Somalia. According to the OIC new resolution to strengthen health equity for all, the OIC resolution on polio eradication follows concerns raised at the World Health Assembly in May 2003 by many OIC countries, including Bangladesh, Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, about the risk ongoing transmission anywhere poses to polio-free countries, further highlighting the need to quickly eradicate this disease.
The resolution which was presented by the Government of Malaysia and other OIC Members, on the last day of the 10th Session of the Islamic Summit in Putrajaya requested international community, including OIC Member States and philanthropic organizations in the Islamic world, to come up with the necessary funds to stop transmission completely by 2005. Speaking at the Conference, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, Kul Gautam commended the OIC on its decision, which he called a vital step towards a major victory for children of the Islamic world, adding that no country is safe from polio if its neighbours are not.
Also speaking, Regional Director of WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Region, Dr Hussein A. Gezairy said the "statement by the OIC is extremely important at this stage of the eradication effort.
The Director-General for Polio Eradication, Dr David Heymann, Representative of WHO, addressing the OIC delegation at the Summit noted that OIC countries have demonstrated their resolve to protect their children against polio, with 51 of its 57 Member States already polio-free. The president of Rotary International, Jonathan Majiyagbe said it has made ending polio its main philanthropic goal since 1985. Rotary's 1.2 million members are dedicated to wiping out polio, having committed volunteer support and well over US$ 500 million to this effort.
He further added that the OIC resolution was an important step to protecting the world's collective investment in the eradication initiative. It could be recalled that World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)have been spearheading partners in the global fight to eradicate polio.
Experts warn that the risk to the successful completion of polio eradication is magnified by a global funding gap of US$ 210 million, needed for eradication activities through 2005. These funds are more urgently needed than ever to deal with the threat of imported virus. If the Global Polio Eradication Initiative is successful, polio will be the first disease to be eradicated.
in the 21st century, and will represent the attainment of a unique global public good and equity in health for all countries.
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