Cairo: The State of Qatar participated in the 9th meeting of the Regional Subcommittee for Polio Eradication and Outbreaks Response, held during the 70th session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean.
The State of Qatar’s delegation to the meeting was headed by Minister of Public Health H E Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, who is also the Co-Chair of the Regional Subcommittee on Polio Eradication and Outbreaks Response.
In her remarks, Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari stressed the importance of unifying efforts and strengthening international cooperation to eradicate polio, calling on the Regional Committee to direct all available resources to deliver more vaccines to a greater number of children in countries facing poliovirus outbreaks.
She stressed the importance of these countries responding quickly and taking the necessary measures to protect children from the disease and prevent its spread to other regions or countries.
Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari said that despite the important achievement made in 2022 by reaching (3.5) million children in Afghanistan and confining the wild poliovirus to the smallest historical region in history, however, outbreaks occurred in Djibouti, Egypt, Somalia, and Yemen, and globally, the picture was bleak as cases of mutated poliovirus infection were discovered in Canada and the United Kingdom, and one case in the United States.
She indicated that progress had been made during the current year, as the gains achieved in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the two countries where polio is still endemic, were maintained. Significant improvements have also been achieved in this regard, confirming that there is currently only one genetic group of wild poliovirus circulating in both countries, stressing that an important achievement has been made in the field of virus surveillance, which enhances the ability to quickly eradicate it.
Dr. Hanan Mohammed Al Kuwari stated that the epidemiological situation is clear, and the opportunity is now available to eradicate the disease. Reaching the goal of a polio-free Eastern Mediterranean region requires cooperation from all countries in the region and providing the necessary support to Afghanistan and Pakistan, so that they can overcome this disease.
The meeting of the Regional Subcommittee for Polio Eradication and Outbreaks Response at the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean reviewed regional developments on eradicating the disease.
