Technical Advisory Group convenes to review the Afghanistan polio program
Afghanistan, Kabul: 22 March 2021 – The Technical Advisory Group (TAG) met to review and discuss polio eradication progress in Afghanistan. The meeting, which started on the 17th March 2021 and ended on the 20th March 2021 was conducted virtually for three days in the presence of H.E. Dr. Wahid Majrooh, the acting Minister of Public Health, (MoPH).
Speaking at the opening of TAG meeting, the acting health minister emphasized the government commitment to end polio in Afghanistan.
“We continue to tackle polio eradication as a matter of national emergency. I want to assure all the partners that the programme has the highest level of political commitment from H.E. President Ghani, the Ministry of Public Health and other line ministries,” said acting Minister, Dr. Majrooh.
Jean Marc Olive, the TAG Chairperson expressed appreciation of the exceptional work done on polio eradication amidst all the challenges in the past year. He noted the impressive efforts of frontline workers is resuming their core duties despite the Covid-19 interruptions.
The TAG members, Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners, donors and government representatives participated in the meeting, with adherence of COVID-19 best practices. During the meeting, the members were fully briefed on the current polio situation in the country and ongoing eradication efforts at national and provincial levels.
The TAG was established to review polio eradication progress and technically advise the programme on the best approaches and recommendations to ending polio in key endemic countries and ensure the programme is on the track.
