World Polio Day 2024: Date, Theme, History, And Importance

World Polio Day 2024 Theme

World Polio Day, observed on October 24 each year, holds immense significance in the global health field. The World Polio Day theme for 2024 is, ‘A Global Mission to Reach Every Child’.

World Polio Day History

World Polio Day was established by Rotary International to honour the birthday of Jonas Salk, the medical researcher who developed the first polio vaccine. In 1955, Salk introduced the Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine, followed by Albert Sabin's Oral Polio Vaccine in 1962. In 1988, the World Health Assembly committed to eradicating the poliovirus, with approximately 350,000 cases reported globally at that time. By 2002, the WHO European Region was declared polio-free, leading to the annual celebration of World Polio Day on October 24 to raise awareness about this.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), “In 1988, the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution for the worldwide eradication of polio, marking the launch of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), spearheaded by national governments, WHO, Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UNICEF, and later joined by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.” This initiative united governments, health organisations, and communities to eradicate polio worldwide.

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World Polio Day Importance

World Polio Day serves multiple vital purposes in terms of global health:

1. Raising Awareness

A primary goal of World Polio Day is to educate the public about the disease, its symptoms, and its transmission. Many people are unaware of polio and its potential consequences, especially in regions where the disease has been eliminated. By increasing awareness, the initiative aims to ensure that parents understand the importance of vaccinating their children and the role of vaccines.

2. Celebrating Progress

World Polio Day also highlights the substantial progress made in combating polio. Since the launch of the GPEI, millions of children have been vaccinated, and cases have dramatically decreased. Celebrating these achievements is crucial for the motivation of ongoing support for vaccination campaigns, which are essential for complete eradication.

3. Promoting Global Collaboration

This day acts as a focusing point for governments, health organisations, and individuals worldwide. It encourages people to unite in their commitment to ending polio, especially in regions facing persistent challenges such as conflict, misinformation, and vaccine hesitancy.

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World Polio Day Significance

“Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious viral disease that largely affects children under 5 years of age. The virus is transmitted by person-to-person spread mainly through the faecal-oral route or, less frequently, by a common vehicle (e.g. contaminated water or food) and multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system and cause paralysis”, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since the inception of global efforts such as the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in 1988, remarkable strides have been made in decreasing polio cases worldwide and now polio remains in a few countries.

On World Polio Day, various health organisations organise events to raise awareness about the disease. It can be rallies, competitions, and contests in schools and colleges, all aimed at educating the younger generation about the importance of vaccination and eradication efforts.

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