World Vision awarded $74 million to eradicate polio

World Vision and its sub grantees are celebrating being awarded $74 million from USAID to continue and expand critical activities for the CORE Group Polio Project (CGPP). This project will continue to focus on vulnerable and hard-to-reach areas in India, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia and South Sudan, and provide rapid response to outbreaks if they occur.

The five-year strategic plan for polio calls for three years of strong surveillance without a case to certify a region and ultimately the world polio free. All six countries are still at high risk of re-importation of Wild Polio Virus (WPV), as well as, emergence of Vaccine Derived Polio Virus (VDPVs) due to inconsistent routine immunization coverage, fewer Supplemental Immunization Activities (SIAs), high population density, poor sanitation, and large mobile populations. All six countries report Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance rates of greater than 2 per 100,000 in children under 15 on a countrywide basis, but many have silent areas where surveillance is not sufficient.

The CGPP has played a critical role over the past 18 years in engaging and representing civil society and NGOs in polio eradication, introducing innovations such as the use of community health workers to mobilize communities to overcome resistance and encourage participation. This community approach will continue to be critical as we move into the final phase of polio eradication.

Watch this fun video to learn more about World Vision’s polio work though the COREGroup!