Supporting the United Nations Children's Fund in the global eradication of polio

This UNICEF project supports implementing the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI)’s Strategic Plan 2022-2029 which provides a global roadmap to eradicate polio. It aims to improve health particularly in vulnerable populations in polio-endemic outbreaks and high-risk countries. Project activities include: (1) working with targeted governments to strengthen oral polio vaccine campaign safety and quality and introduce inactivated polio vaccine into routine immunization systems; (2) providing technical assistance to front-line workers to increase immunization coverage; and (3) working with governments to transition polio assets and infrastructure to broader health goals and national health systems. The GPEI is a partnership between the United Nations Children’s Fund the World Health Organization the United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention Rotary International and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) increased interruption of wild poliovirus and stop all vaccine-derived poliovirus outbreaks; (2) improved polio integration through health system strengthening vaccine-preventable disease and infectious disease surveillance and outbreak and emergency preparedness; and (3) contained polioviruses and certify interruption of transmission.