World Leaders Recommit to Eradication

Leaders of the Group of Seven have re-emphasised their commitment to stopping polio at their meeting in Kobe, Japan

20160920_g7leaders — G7 leaders in Kobe emphasised the importance of reaching every last child with polio vaccines, especially in challenging environments such as northern Nigeria. ©WHO/H. Dicko.

One year into the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, global leaders reconfirmed their full commitment to implementing ensuring healthy lives and well-being for all, including ending polio.

Health Ministers and high representatives of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety gathered in Kobe on 11 – 12 September, in continuation of the G7 Ise-Shima Summit in May to address major global health challenges.

In a statement released following the meeting, the leaders called for commitments from all stakeholders in the polio eradication programme to ensure that every last child is reached with polio vaccines. They particularly emphasised the need to fill the programme’s funding gap in order to ensure the achievement of this global good.

As well highlighting the importance of going above and beyond to reach children even in the most challenging environments, the G7 leaders also looked to the future, stating that polio assets have the potential to contribute to strengthening health systems if transitioned to other programmes once polio eradication has been achieved.

Read the full statement here.