Nigeria draws lessons from India in fight against polio

Source: The Africa Report

Nigeria has turned to India for help to eradicate polio following India's successful strategy against the disease. India was officially removed from the list of polio endemic countries on February 27. Nigeria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan remain the only countries where disease transmission has never been stopped.

A system to operate in any environment

Source: Financial Times

The Gavi Alliance has so far secured over $7.2 billion in funding for immunisation programmes around the world. We needed a system that would work across tough environments that have variable connectivity. We now have what we call our Online Country Portal, which allows health mangers in the countries we work with to easily enter their data in a consistent format. Those who have particular challenges with the system have the option to use the original document forms, but everyone is finding it easier to use the new system - we have had a 100 per cent take-up.

MMR vaccine uptake reaches 14-year high

Source: BBC

In England, 91% of children under the age of two received the first dose of the jab between 2011 and 2012, a rise of 2.1% on the previous year. But this is still short of the 95% that experts believe is required to stop the spread of measles.

Innovative practices could extend the reach of immunisation campaigns

Source: The Guardian

Since October, 116 people have died of yellow fever in western Sudan, and some 460 people have been infected. A vaccination campaign has began targeting some 2.4 million people. Darfur is still affected by serious instability since conflict broke out there in 2003 – hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced, the region is impoverished and has very basic infrastructure. One of the biggest obstacles is keeping the 'cold chain' intact.

Polio vaccine checks key to eradication effort

Source: BBC News

People from Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan should not be allowed to leave their country unless they can show they have been vaccinated against polio, according to the body which monitors attempts to eradicate the disease.

Gates joins Africa's richest man to fight polio in Nigeria

Source: AFP

The richest man in Africa and the wealthiest man from the United States joined forces Monday in the battle against polio, which has seen a resurgence in Nigeria despite efforts to eradicate it.