Health Page - Issue 46

46 - Nov 13 thru Nov 19 2000, Vol X

Progress Towards Polio Eradication in Yemen

Mohammed Ali Kolaise
National EPI Manager
Ministry of Public Health
In 1988 the World Health Assembly resolved to eradicate poliomyelitis globally by the end of 2000. In 1996 The Government of Yemen committed to eradicate polio along with other countries..
The eradication activities began in 1996 with conducted National Immunization Days (NIDs) followed by two rounds of NIDs per year over a short period, targeted all children below 5 years in which two doses of oral polio vaccine administered regardless of previous vaccination status with an interval of 4 weeks between doses.
The (NIDs) for polio eradication conducted as strategy to interrupt transmission of wild poliovirus - during a low transmission session in particular winter session.
Yemen has so far implemented 5 campaigns of very successful nationwide NIDs the first NIDs conducted to immunize 2.6 million children under the age of five with Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) during November and December 1996. Despite numerous difficulties, the coverage result of the NIDs surpassed all expectations. During the first round of the NIDs 3.1 million children received a dose of OPV, while 3.5 million children were immunized during the second round.
In 1997, 1998, 1999 the better successes continued annually, The NIDS 2000 conducted the first round on 8 - 10 Oct and the second round conducted on 5 - 7 Nov 2000, were 4,320,203 children immunized during second round and 471,303 children at age 6-11 months received concentrated dose Vit A capsule 100,000 IU , 3,383359 children age group 12-59 months received concentrated dose of Vit A capsule 200,000 IU, it was a very good opportunity that both round launched by H.E president Ali Abdullah Saleh.
H.E. the only president worldwide who launched 5 NIDs were the last NIDs launched both rounds, the president received a letter of thanks and appreciation from the regional director of the world health organization for his efforts and support committed to eradicate polio from Yemen.
The polio eradication activities in Yemen, achieved a tremendous achievements towards eradicate poliomyelitis, in march 2000 the words health organization excluded Yemen from the map of endemic countries due to the good indicators presented as outcome of successful activities and efforts achieved in the country.

The main reasons for the success include:
- Very high political commitment
- Cooperation of different government sectors
- Effective social mobilization
- Strong community participation
- Dedicated health care workers and volunteers
- Good Support from international partners mainly (WHO, UNICEF, Japan, CDC)
- High demand of immunization among the public
- Detailed and accurate planning

In addition to achieving a high coverage of OPV, the success of the NIDs had major impact in the effort of revitalizing the immunization program. Some of these impacts include:

Future Goals
Now, the objective is to utilize the success of the NIDs, and the momentum to strengthen the EPI and the primary health care system as a whole. Activities that need to be implemented immediately include:

1- Revitalizing the EPI program to achieve sustainable high routine immunization coverage
2- Continue implementing polio eradication strategies until the eradication goal is achieved.
3- Conducting yearly NIDs and Sub- NIDs until cessation of wild polio transmission is proven, and strong surveillance system, capable of identifying any case of suspected polio, is established
4- Strengthening Developing surveillance system to identify any suspected case of polio - Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance, and other diseases
5- Increasing and maintain high level of routine immunization coverage at least 90% of children less than one year with OPV 3.

Health News

S. Africa to Implement Vaccination Program to Contain Animal Disease
JOHANNESBURG—South Africa will immediately implement a vaccination program to combat the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the northeastern KwaZulu-Natal midlands, the country’s national disease control center said on Thursday.
The decision was made during a meeting of the FMD control team Wednesday night with concurrence of Agricultural Minister Thoko Didiza and KwaZulu-Natal agriculture official Narend Singh.
“The FMD control team is presently meeting to consolidate the immediate implementation of the vaccination plan,” the control center said, adding that “a coordinated vaccination strategy will be initiated as a measure of protection to cloven-hoofed animals and to prevent the spread of the disease.”
A vaccination program would help change the country’s status of export of cloven hoofed animals and products. South Africa’s current status as a foot and mouth disease-free country was obtained without vaccination.
FMD broke out on a piggery at Camperdown in the northeastern province of KwaZulu-Natal two months ago. New infections were discovered in the surrounding communal areas three weeks ago, which necessitated the extension of a 10-kilometer-radius quarantine zone to 15 kilometers. An additional 9,000 animals have been identified for culling within this extended zone.
So far almost 7,000 animals have been put down since the disease broke out and at least 17 countries have imposed partial or complete bans on the export of cloven hoofed animals or products from South Africa.More than 1000 people are working 12-hour shifts around the clock in a bid to prevent the spread of the disease, with a large amount of money having been spent. (Xinhua)
U.N. Population

Agency Gets Money to Avert Condom Shortage
UNITED NATIONS—The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on Friday welcomed the news that the Netherlands and Britain will contribute a total of 76 million U.S.dollars to avert a reduction in contraceptive supply to developing countries.
The money will be used to purchase male and female condoms, other methods of contraception, obstetric and gynecological equipment, and drugs for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases in the poorest countries, the U.N. agency said.
The money, comprising 39 million dollars from the Netherlands and nearly 37 million dollars from Britain, comes after UNFPA reported a marked shortage of contraceptives during 1999 and 2000.
UNFPA, the world’s leading supplier of contraceptives to developing countries, has had to reduce its support in this area due to lack of funding, despite increasing demand for effective contraception in countries most affected by HIV/AIDS.
About six in 10 couples in developing countries now use family planning, compared with one in 10 in the 1960s, U.N. figures show.
Demand for contraceptives is projected to grow by 40 percent between now and 2015 as a result of growth in population and in the proportion of contraception users.
UNFPA estimates the current contraceptive shortfall at between 75 million and 85 million dollars. A one million dollar shortfall may result in some 360,000 unwanted pregnancies, 150,000 abortions,and a number of maternal and infant deaths.
UNFPA said the Netherlands recently became its biggest donor, with a pledge of 51 million dollars for 2000, accounting for some 21 percent of its general funding.
(Xinhua )

Beetle Outbreak Prompts State of Emergency in B.C., Canada

OTTAWA—The forest industry of Canada’s pacific province of British Columbia has declared a state of emergency in the region’s largest-ever outbreak of mountain pine beetle. The epidemic has affected nearly 40 million cubic meters of pine, which has a market value of more than 3.4 billion Canadian dollars (about 2.2 billion U.S. dollars), according to a release from the North Central Municipal Association reaching here Friday.
“Communities in affected areas join with the industry in declaring this epidemic a state of emergency,” the association said.
There are 5.7 million hectares of forest in the province, wherepine makes up 50 percent of the timber. The beetle, which could have a mortality rate of 50 percent in severe winter weather, is reported to have quadrupled with only 10percent being killed in mild winters of the past two years.
To fight the half-a-centimeter-long bug, up to 3,400 workers are cutting down trees and destroying them at mills. The natural disaster could be brought under control either by a cold winter orby human intervention.
(Xinhua)

Britain to Help Meet Third World Safe Contraception Demand

LONDON—Britain on Friday announced a 25 million pounds (about 35.65 million U.S. dollars) payment to help meet increasing demand for safe contraceptives in the developing world.
The one-off payment to the United Nations Population Fund will be spent on male and female condoms and drugs to treat sexually transmitted infections, British Department for International Development (DFID) said in a statement.
“The AIDS pandemic is spreading at an alarming rate, with up toa quarter of all adults infected in some African countries,” International Development Secretary Clare Short said.
“Access to safe contraception and reproductive health services for all is one of the International Development Targets and a corecomponent of Britain’s health strategy for the developing world,” she said.
The DFID statement said the United Nations population fund faced the prospect of not being able to meet the rising demand for contraceptives in the developing world.
“A shortfall of 500,000 pounds (some 750,000 U.S. dollars)could lead to 360,000 unwanted pregnancies, 150,000 unsafe abortions, more than 800 maternal deaths and 11,000 child deaths,” it said. (Xinhua)