Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when he is planning for an announcement by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative of a post-2019 date for the complete eradication of polio.

The UK is a long-standing supporter of the polio eradication efforts led by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. These efforts have been incredibly successful, seeing a 99% reduction in cases of polio over the last 30 years.

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative has recently published its new strategic plan for the next phase of eradication activities, until 2023. The strategy does not commit to eradicate Polio by a certain date, as we know that the virus is still circulating in the most difficult environments where it’s extremely hard to reach every last child, such as parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan. There will be a Polio moment in November when international donors are expected to announce ongoing commitment to the global eradication efforts. The UK is currently considering the new strategic plan and will make announcements on Polio in November 2019.