WHO South-East Asia Region marks World Polio Day with renewed call to sustain polio-free status

New Delhi, 26 October 2026 - The WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia convened a regional webinar to commemorate World Polio Day 2026 under the theme “One day, one focus: ending polio for good”.

The WHO South-East Asia Region has remained polio-free since 2014. In his message, Mr Chris Wolff, Director of Polio Eradication at WHO headquarters, acknowledged the Region’s success in showing that polio eradication is possible, and stressed that, while poliovirus circulates anywhere, countries must stay vigilant through high immunization coverage, sensitive surveillance and outbreak preparedness, and integrate polio capacities into national health systems to make this success lasting.

The webinar focused on three closely linked areas: regular national and subnational polio risk assessment; outbreak preparedness and response readiness; and translating evidence into targeted programme action.

Participants reviewed how risk assessments can identify local immunity and detection gaps that may be hidden by national averages. Sessions on outbreak readiness highlighted the need for every country to maintain an updated, country-specific national polio outbreak preparedness and response plan aligned with current global standard operating procedures. Laboratory readiness was recognized as an essential component of outbreak preparedness. Participants also discussed the value of preparedness self-assessments and simulation exercises in testing whether plans can work under real operational conditions.

Nepal presented how subnational risk assessment is used to identify where risk is concentrated and to guide action at provincial, district, municipal and community levels. India shared experience from integrated polio and measles outbreak simulation exercises conducted in four batches between December 2025 and August 2026.

WHO-SEARO urged countries to protect population immunity through high routine coverage and at least two  doses of inactivated polio vaccine; keep laboratory-supported surveillance sensitive; use subnational risk assessments to drive action; stay outbreak-ready through updated plans and simulation exercises; and sustain country ownership through political commitment, adequate resources and partner collaboration.

The webinar brought together around 200 participants, including representatives of ministries of health, national polio certification committees, WHO offices and technical partners, to examine the actions needed to sustain a polio-free Region.

Closing the webinar, WHO SEARO reiterated that protecting the Region’s polio-free status requires sustained action in every country, every community and for every child.

Webinar Recording
Watch the recording of the WHO South-East Asia Region webinar on sustaining a polio-free Region.