The WHO South-East Asia Region was officially declared free of wild polio viruses on March 27, 2014. The last case of wild poliovirus in this region was reported in January 2011, and since then, no new cases have been found. This great achievement is due to the strong political will, tireless efforts of health workers, and the teamwork of partners, donors, civil societies, and everyone involved. It shows the dedication and commitment of all the countries in our region to public health and the well-being of their citizens.

While we celebrate this important success, it’s important to remember that our job is not finished. Polio is still a threat until it is completely eradicated worldwide. So, we must continue to focus on polio prevention by ensuring high vaccination rates, strong surveillance systems, and quick responses to any outbreaks. We also need to make sure that polio virus materials are properly contained according to global guidelines.

Our region is following all the key strategies for eradicating polio. The coverage of both the bivalent oral polio vaccine and the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) through routine immunization has now surpassed pre-pandemic levels. However, in some countries, the coverage is still not ideal, and there are variations in different parts of the region.

To all those involved in the fight against polio, my message is to keep working together at all levels. It’s crucial that we continue to have the resources to maintain essential polio functions and follow the global and regional guidelines to stay polio-free.

Our ongoing efforts and alertness are vital to ensuring we don’t lose the hard-earned progress of the last decade. By staying committed, we can protect future generations from polio and move closer to a world where polio no longer exists. Let’s remain united in our mission, inspired by our past achievements and resilience. Together, we can eradicate polio and create a healthier, polio-free future for everyone.