Doha, Qatar: Qatar hosted the 38th meeting of the WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Regional Commission for Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication (RCC). The RCC is the regional body that reviews and verifies each country’s progress towards maintaining a polio-free status. The annual RCC meeting is an opportunity for all 22 countries and territories of the region to share annual updates and progress reports on the status of their poliovirus surveillance, population immunity, outbreak preparedness and containment of poliovirus in laboratories.
In her address, Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, thanked the State of Qatar for hosting the meeting and acknowledged the work of the National Certification Committees and the National Programmes. “As we approach polio eradication and the subsequent certification of eradication, the quality of surveillance and laboratory performance becomes the central programme priority. WHO will diligently follow the RCC’s recommendations as we embark upon the last mile to achieving polio eradication,” said Dr Balkhy.
The RCC acknowledged the epidemiological progress and improvements made in strengthening surveillance and preparedness for poliovirus outbreaks in the region. 18 out of 20 countries within the region have achieved the surveillance standards required for certification of polio eradication. The RCC provisionally accepted reports submitted by 20 polio-free countries in the region, while progress re.
