Statement by India at the 142nd Session of the Executive Board (EB) of the World Health Organization (22nd to 27th January 2018) on Agenda item 3.4: Polio Transition planning, delivered by Sh. Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. [WHO HQ, Geneva, 24th January 2018]

Thank You Chair,

India appreciates the report of the Director General on the subject of Polio Transition Planning particularly its emphasis on polio transition being planned and managed in a way which is in alignment with the strategic objectives set out in the draft 13^th General Programme of Work.

2. India supports the proposed absorption of GPEI (Global Polio Eradication Initiative) staff and systems into general primary health care and public health systems. The platforms will serve to continue to support polio functions post certification as well as immunisation, epidemiological surveillance, food system interventions and maternal and child health.

3. India has been polio free for more than 6 years now; however, the risk of importation and Vaccine Derived Polio Virus (VDPV) still persists.

Mr. Chair,

4. The delegation of India would like to mention that rapid scaling down of the National Polio Surveillance Project’s (NPSP) infrastructure may not only risk the polio programme but also related activities intended to strengthen immunization programmes on the existing NPSP structure. This is critical to sustain and strengthen the gains made so far by India in polio. Government of India has also recently provided nearly USD 1.25 million to NPSP which will also help to rapidly expand the immunization delivery infrastructure.

5. We strongly believe that NPSP network should continue to operate at its current level with the global funding continuing to support the NPSP structure. This would be critical to our ongoing efforts.

Mr. Chair,

6. India remains committed to working with the WHO in making Polio Transition planning a success.

Thank You.