ABSTRACT
Background: Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance was adopted globally as a key strategy for monitoring the progress of the polio eradication initiative. The main objective of AFP surveillance is to detect the presence of circulating wild-type poliovirus and other subtypes of polioviruses. Stool specimen collection kits for AFP surveillance and data tools, regrettably are not always available in health facilities, and thus cause gaps in specimen collection and proper documentation which could ultimately lead to under-reporting of cases. Methods: This survey was undertaken to determine the availability of stool collection kits and data capturing tools in health facilities in some randomly selected states in Nigeria. The main aim was to relate the findings with the quality of the surveillance system in the areas visited and an overall indication of the functionality of the process in the country. Results: The outcome of the study found only 32,598 (74.7%) health facilities out of the 43,644 health facilities who visited and had stool specimen collection kits, while of the 43,582 health facilities visited, only 38,029 (87.3%) health facilities had data tools. Conclusions: Gaps were noticed in the supply of key AFP surveillance components to the health facilities visited, which by extension could apply to those not visited. Countries that are still polio-endemic will have to regularly survey their facilities for the availability of these very important materials. The methodology can be adapted to other diseases to evaluate the strength of the surveillance system.
ABSTRACT
Continuous wild poliovirus transmission despite 12 years of intensive surveillance has raised serious questions about the feasibility of polio eradication programme with current strategy in near future. At present most of the cases are confined to four endemic countries, which are causing sporadic outbreaks in non-endemic areas. India has experienced a significant increase in number of cases reported in 2006 compared to previous year. Outbreaks originated in western UP which was due to the accumulation of susceptibles between the last outbreak in 2002 and early 2006. Substantial improvement has been observed in strategies of polio eradication but still there are gaps in the programme implementation which needs immediate attention so that goal of polio eradication can be achieved at the earliest opportunity. Even though there are many issues but there are also many factors, which favour polio eradication. These factors include new tool in form of m OPV, natural immunity due to recent outbreak, limiting international spread of polio, new researches to guide programme in right direction, political commitments from endemic countries, etc. 2008 presents the best opportunity ever to interrupt wild polio virus transmission which will lead to global eradication of Polio. Since global eradication is within sight, it is scientifically possible to eradicate the disease in near future.