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October 24, 2024 10:10
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World Polio Day highlights the global effort to end polio. On this day, awareness is spread on how we can finally eliminate polio.
World Polio Day is celebrated every year on October 24 and acts as a reminder of the global fight towards the eradication of polio (poliomyelitis), it is a disease that has affected millions of people worldwide, especially children, over the past century. This is a day of reflection, awareness, and action as the world unites and collaborates to work towards the elimination of the polio virus. In this detailed guide, we will provide the significance of World Polio Day 2024, its history, this year’s theme, and how polio continues to impact various parts of the world.
World Polio Day 2024 will be observed on October 24 with the aim of raising awareness and supporting global efforts to eradicate polio. Initiated by Rotary International, this day highlights the progress made toward eliminating polio, while on the other hand, it also reminds the world that the fight continues in regions still affected by this virus. It highlights the importance of vaccination and global cooperation.
| World Polio Day 2024 Overview | |
| Aspect | Details |
| Event | World Polio Day 2024 |
| Date | October 24, 2024 |
| Theme | A Global Mission to Reach Every Child |
| Objective | Raise awareness of polio eradication efforts |
| Organized by | Rotary International, WHO, and UNICEF |
| Polio-endemic Countries | Afghanistan, Pakistan |
| Global Vaccination Goal | Total eradication of polio by sustained efforts |
| Major Activities | Awareness campaigns, fundraisers, vaccination drives |
| Significance | Highlights progress in polio eradication and the need for continued global cooperation |
| Hashtags | #WorldPolioDay #EndPolio |
World Polio Day is celebrated on October 24 annually. This date was chosen in honour of the birthday of Dr. Jonas Salk, the virologist who developed the first effective polio vaccine in 1955. This discovery of Salk was a huge breakthrough in the battle against polio, and his work laid the foundation for the overall immunization programs we have today.
On this day, events and campaigns are organized worldwide to raise awareness about polio, its prevention, and the efforts needed to achieve complete eradication. Rotary International, in collaboration with other global health partners, leads many initiatives, such as fundraisers, vaccination drives, and educational programs, to spread the message of a polio-free world.
The history of World Polio Day originates from last 1980s when Rotary International launched its PolioPlus program, this was the first initiative that aspired to eradicate polio through mass immunization. This program set the stage for the formation of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in 1988, which brought together several partners, including the WHO, UNICEF, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The idea of remembering this specific day as World Polio Day emerged later, as part of Rotary’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness and generate funding for vaccination campaigns.
The first official World Polio Day was celebrated in 1988, it was the same year the GPEI (Global Polio Eradication Initiative) was launched globally. At that time, there were an estimated 350,000 cases of polio in 125 countries. Since then, the world has made significant progress in decreasing polio cases, with many countries making remarkable progress thus they have been declared polio-free, which is only possible because of extensive vaccination programs.
Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a viral infection that predominantly spreads because of contaminated water or food. The virus attacks the spinal cord and brain which leads to paralysis in extreme cases. It is most commonly found in children under five years of age, although anyone who has not been vaccinated may acquire this disease.
There are three types of poliovirus (Types 1, 2, and 3), but because of global vaccination efforts, Type 2 was declared eradicated in 1999, and Type 3 was eradicated in 2020. However, Type 1 is still circulated in a few regions and remains endemic as of the year 2022, and it continues to circulate in two countries: Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Symptoms of polio range from mild, flu-like signs such as fever and headache to severe outcomes like paralysis and muscle weakness. The most effective way to prevent polio is through vaccination, which has proven to be safe and highly effective.
Since the launch of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in 1988, wild poliovirus cases have decreased by over 99%. Back in 1988, there were an estimated 350,000 cases spread across more than 125 endemic countries. By 2021, this number of active cases had dropped drastically, with only 6 reported cases.
While most of the countries have been already declared polio-free, health organizations continue to monitor these regions closely. The continuation of polio in certain areas highlights the challenges of reaching vulnerable populations, especially in conflict zones, and highlights the need for sustained international efforts.
Once India was the epicentre of the global polio crisis, which accounted for nearly 60% of worldwide cases. In response, India launched the Pulse Polio Immunization Programme on 2 October 1994, it is a massive nationwide effort to vaccinate children against the poliovirus. This initiative played a crucial role in reducing polio cases across India.
Through concerted efforts, the last reported case of polio in India occurred in Howrah, West Bengal, on 13 January 2011. Following three consecutive years with no new cases in the nation, India was officially declared polio-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 27 March 2014. This was observed as a significant public health achievement, turning India’s polio eradication program into a global model for fighting preventable diseases.
India implemented nationwide vaccination drives which reached millions of children across urban and rural areas. These efforts involved mobilizing health workers, community leaders, and volunteers, making India’s polio eradication campaign one of the most successful public health initiatives in history.
World Polio Day 2024 is more than just a day, it is a global call to action that ensures that polio is wiped out once and for all. The success of vaccination campaigns in reducing the number of polio cases in the world is a testament to what can be achieved when the global community comes together for a common cause.
As we observe World Polio Day 2024, it is crucial to remember that while significant progress has been made, the fight against polio is not over. With concerted efforts, global cooperation, and ongoing vaccination campaigns, we are closer than ever to a world where no child suffers from this preventable disease. Let’s make World Polio Day 2024 a day of renewed commitment to reaching every last child with the polio vaccine and ending polio for good.
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