Addis Ababa. 24 November 2014 – The third polio outbreak assessment in Ethiopia was successfully conducted on 17-21 November 2014. The assessment follows a recommendation from the Horn of Africa Technical Advisory Group (TAG) at its last meeting in August 2014 to conduct a follow up assessment. The assessment took place in the context of continuing circulation of wild polio virus in the Horn of Africa for over one year now, with the most recent confirmed case with onset of paralysis on 11 August 2014 in Hobyo District of Somalia; as well as confirmed cases of vaccine-derived polio virus infection in South Sudan and Uganda. The last case of wild polio virus in Ethiopia had onset of paralysis on 5 January 2014.

An external team comprised of representatives from WHO Horn of Africa Coordination Office and Headquarters, UNICEF ESARO and Headquarters, CDC, USAID and CORE GROUP conducted the follow up assessment. The objectives of the assessment were to determine whether the progress seen in Ethiopia as per the epidemiology is real; to assess whether the quality and adequacy of polio outbreak response activities are sufficient to interrupt polio transmission or sustain polio free status, if already interrupted; and to provide additional technical recommendations to assist the country to meet the goal of achieving or sustaining polio-free status. 

The assessment included a desk review and field visits to Somali Region (Dollo and Jigjiga zones). A detailed review of the status of implementation of recommendations from the 2nd outbreak assessment was done at the national, regional and zonal levels. 

A debriefing on the findings and conclusions was held on 21 November in the presence of the Government and partners. The general observations from the assessment were that:

There is very strong commitment to address the outbreak at all levels;
Strong progress has been made in the implementation of recommendations from the previous assessment;
There is improvement in vaccination coverage of pastoral communities, particularly in micro-planning and communication; however this needs to be further strengthened through close monitoring;
Surveillance performance and routine immunization coverage in the affected zone (Dollo) are of concern.
The assessment team concluded that “Significant progress has been made in outbreak response activities. However, in the view of surveillance quality in Dollo zone, continuing low level of transmission cannot be ruled out.”

Speaking on behalf of the Government, Dr Taye Tolera, Head of the Office of H.E. the State Minister of Health, welcomed the assessment findings, noting the full commitment of the Government to sustain the gains that have been achieved in the outbreak response and to address the recommendations proposed, working together with the partners.

Dr Pierre Mpele-Kilebou, WHO Representative to Ethiopia, acknowledged the strong leadership of the Government at all levels in the fight against polio. He noted the challenging context in the outbreak zone and region as a whole that required innovative and tailored approaches to respond to the outbreak and to sustain the gains through the routine system. Dr Mpele pledged continued collective effort and partnership to address the recommendations of the assessment.

For more information please contact

Dr Fiona Braka
Maternal and Child Health, and Nutrition
WHO Ethiopia
Email:  brakaf [at] who.int
Tel: +251 911 200 765

Loza Mesfin Tesfaye
Communications
WHO Ethiopia
Email:  tesfayel [at] who.int
Tel: +251 911 144 194

Photo Credit: UNICEF/ Rustam Haydarov