Declarations and Resolutions
19-23 August 2016, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
66th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa
17-19 November, Istanbul, Turkey
27-28 May 2015, Kuwait city, State of Kuwait
42nd Session of the Council of the Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation
Resolution WHA68.3 عربي ¦ 中文 ¦ English ¦ Français ¦ Русский ¦ Español
26 May 2015
The World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted a resolution, noting that achieving success could only be achieved through global solidarity. The WHA commended countries’ emergency eradication efforts which had brought the world to the brink of being polio-free, and noted the strong progress being made towards preparing for the phased removal of oral polio vaccines (OPV), urging all countries to ensure global readiness for the coordinated global switch from trivalent OPV to bivalent OPV in early 2016.
27 February 2014
The Global Islamic Advisory Group on polio eradication, consisting of the world’s leading Islamic scholars and led by the Grand Imam of the Holy Mosque of Mecca, declared that protection against diseases is obligatory and admissible under Islamic Shariah, and that any actions which do not support these preventive measures and cause harm to humanity are un-Islamic.
26 May 2012
The World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted a landmark Resolution declaring the completion of polio eradication a programmatic emergency for global public health. Member States highlighted the feasibility of eradication in the near-term, but expressed concern at an ongoing funding gap threatening success. The Resolution urges all remaining infected countries to declare polio to be a national public health emergency requiring the implementation of emergency action plans monitored at the highest levels; calls on all countries to fully apply vaccination recommendations for all travelers to/from polio-infected countries; and, urges all Member States to rapidly make available the financial requirements to achieve a polio-free world.
23 January 2012
The Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO) and global health leaders expressed concern at ongoing polio transmission in the world and declared its completion a ‘programmatic emergency for global public health’.
29 September 2011
The Executive Governors of the 36 States of of Nigeria adopt and confirm their commitment to polio eradication in Nigeria as contained in the Abuja Commitments.
1 September 2011
Ministers of Health of Africa urge any remaining polio-infected country to declare such events “national public health emergencies”, requiring the systematic engagement of all political, traditional and community leaders to rapidly stop transmission.
2 February 2009
In early 2009, governors of 36 Nigerian states met with Mr Bill Gates and committed – among other things – to provide active leadership of polio eradication activities and primary health care, ensuring that all children under five years old are reached and vaccinated against polio.
WHA 61.1 [Pdf]
24 May 2008
In 2008, delegates at the 61st World Health Assembly called for a new strategy to eradicate polio from the remaining affected countries and finally rid the world of polio.
WHA59.1 [Pdf]
26 May 2006
The 59th World Health Assembly passed a resolution urging polio-endemic Member States to act on their commitment to interrupt transmission of wild-type poliovirus using appropriate monovalent oral polio vaccines, and to respond rapidly to the detection of circulating polioviruses.
Resolution No.14/31-S&T English | Français
14–16 June 2004
Delegates at the 31st session of the Islamic Conference on Foreign Ministers affirmed their commitment to eradicate polio in Member States of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), urging the international community to provide the necessary resources to eradicate polio from OIC Member States and to protect children at risk of polio epidemics in Africa.
20 May 2004
During the 57th World Health Assembly in 2004, ministers of health from Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon signed an agreement to raise the importance of polio eradication and to coordinate their actions to maximize the efficiency of polio eradication activities in their region.
15 January 2004
On 15 January 2004, ministers of health from the (then) six polio-endemic countries – Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Niger, Afghanistan and Egypt – publicly pledged an all-out effort to end polio. Ministers gathered at WHO headquarters to sign the Geneva Declaration for the Eradication of Poliomyelitis, marking a historic step toward stopping poliovirus transmission in their countries.
[Resolution No.14/10-S&T(IS) Pdf]
16–17 October 2003
At the 10th Session of the Islamic Summit Conference in 2003, delegates affirmed their commitment to eradicate polio in Member States of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).
4–8 July 2003
Among other decisions, the Executive Council of the African Union resolved to break the final chains of polio transmission in Africa by reaching every child during polio immunization campaigns.
19 October 2001
At the launch of synchronized National Immunization Days, heads of state and government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) committed to routine immunization, supplementary immunization, and improving surveillance until the sub-region is certified polio-free.
8–10 July 1996
In 1996, the heads of state and government of the Organization of African Unity committed to eradicating polio in Africa as an urgent priority and confirmed their strong determination to make Africa polio-free.
WHA 41.28 عربي ¦ 中文 ¦ English ¦ Français ¦ Русский ¦ Español
13 May 1988
At the 41st World Health Assembly in 1988, delegates from 166 Member States adopted a landmark resolution (WHA 41.28) for the worldwide eradication of polio. It marked the launch of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, spearheaded by the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
