Devex: Polio on the brink of eradication
Peter Crowley, head of the UNICEF polio team

“…We still face setbacks [in progress against polio]. … We must work harder to prevent … lapses, by intensifying our efforts, and by strengthening and maintaining optimal levels of immunity around the world. It has been a mammoth undertaking and while success is now tantalizingly close, many challenges still remain. I believe that polio can and will be eradicated. I believe we are on the verge of something historic, and we must continue to be audacious in our ambitions. Because when we achieve eradication, we will be leaving behind not only a world that is free of this paralyzing disease, but also a legacy of systems, learning, and innovations that can support our continuing quest for a healthy future for all children, everywhere” (10/27).