Strategic Engagement of Technical Surge Capacity for Intensified Polio Eradication Initiative in Nigeria, 2012-2015

Discussion. Programmatic interventions were sustained in states in which security was compromised and the risk of polio was high, partly owing to the presence of the surge capacity personnel, who are engaged from the local community. Since mid-2012, significant programmatic progress was registered in the areas of polio supplementary immunization activities, acute flaccid paralysis surveillance, and routine immunization with the support of the surge capacity personnel. As of 19 June 2015, the last case of WPV was reported on 24 July 2014. The surge infrastructure has also been instrumental in building local capacity; supporting other public health emergencies, such as the Ebola outbreak response and measles and meningitis outbreaks; and strengthening the integrated disease surveillance and response. Due to weak health systems in the country, it is vital to maintain a reasonable level of the surge capacity for successful implementation of the 2013–2018 global polio endgame strategy and beyond.

Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases - April 1, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Yehualashet, Y. G., Mkanda, P., Gasasira, A., Erbeto, T., Onimisi, A., Horton, J., Banda, R., Tegegn, S. G., Ahmed, H., Afolabi, O., Wadda, A., Vaz, R. G., Nsubuga, P. Tags: BEST POLIO ERADICATION INITIATIVE (PEI) PRACTICES IN NIGERIA WITH SUPPORT FROM THE WHO Source Type: research