On 24th October every year, we commemorate the World polio day aimed at raising awareness about the global effort to eradicate polio and the importance of vaccination in protecting every child from this debilitating disease.
Despite a 99% reduction in wild polio cases over the past 35 years, with fewer than ten annual cases currently reported, ongoing vigilance is crucial to prevent resurgence. Polio mainly affects children under five and spreads through contaminated food, water, or person-to-person contact.
To ensure a polio-free future, maintaining high immunization coverage, implementing robust surveillance, and preparing for outbreak response are essential.
This day also honors the contributions of healthcare organizations, volunteers, and partners like World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s fund (UNICEF), Rotary International, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, who are committed to achieving global polio eradication.
Authors: Ritah Namusoosa1*, Hannington Katumba2
Institutional affiliation: 1Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program-Laboratory Leadership Program; Uganda National Institute of Public Health; Ministry of Health Kampala, Uganda, 2Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program-Field Epidemiology Training Program; Uganda National Institute of Public Health; Ministry of Health Kampala, Uganda
Correspondence *Tel: +256785842878 email: rnamusoosa@uniph.go.ug