High Level Meeting of the Global Polio Partners Group, December 15, 2015

1. Ambassador/PR H.E. Mr. Ajit Kumar represented India at the High-Level meeting of the Polio Partners Group of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative that took place in Geneva at the WHO Headquarters on December 15, 2015.

2. The meeting, which saw participation from Ambassadors, senior experts, and representatives of the Polio Partners Group, took stock of the progress achieved in eradication of Polio in 2015, and the efforts underway in implementing the Global Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2018.

3. Ambassador/PR reiterated Government of India's full commitment for successfully withdrawing the type 2 component from the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) as part of the Polio Endgame plan and highlighted the measures initiated by India to implement the Switch from tOPV to bOPV by April 2016, including the recent launch of Injectable Polio Vaccine (IPV) by Hon'ble Health Minister of India H.E. Mr. J P Nadda on 30 November 2015. He underscored the importance of ensuring adequate supply of IPV for the success of the global initiative.

4. Ambassador Kumar also highlighted how the lessons learnt from polio eradication and the huge polio assets were being transitioned to benefit other health priorities in the country as part of the Polio Legacy Planning.This was the other major theme discussed at the high-level meeting.

5. India's contributions to the global polio eradication efforts were well acknowledged and appreciated by the Group. The Ambassador also thanked WHO and other international partners for their continued support to India's Polio programme and expressed India's readiness to share its experiences and best practices with other interested countries.

(Background: The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is a public-private partnership led by national governments and spearheaded by the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The Polio Partners Group serves as the stakeholder voice for GPEI in the development and implementation of short-term and long-term polio eradication strategic plans and emergency action plans. The PPG meets in-person at least two times per year at the ambassadorial/senior-officials level and the results of such meetings are reported to the GPEI Polio Oversight Board. More information can be obtained at www.polioeradication.org.)