Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to (1) ensure progress made by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is sustained after polio funding is withdrawn in countries transitioning away from GPEI support in 2019, and (2) minimise the detrimental consequences the transition could have on basic health infrastructure in those countries.

Since its launch in 1988, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) has successfully led global efforts that have reduced Wild Polio Virus cases by more than 99% from 350,000 cases a year in 125 countries to eight cases so far this year in only three endemic countries.

The UK has played a leading role in this process and UK support to the GPEI will mean up to 45 million children can be vaccinated against polio each year until 2020.

The UK Government has advocated strongly, with all relevant players, that the consequences of a reduction in polio funds (as eradication nears) must be understood and that the benefits of the polio eradication system for wider health systems are realised. The World Health Organisation will present a “Global Polio Transition Strategic Action Plan” to the World Health Assembly at the end of May 2018. The UK will scrutinise this carefully and hold WHO to account for its leadership of this area.