POLIOMYELITIS SURVEILLANCE - THE COMPASS FOR ERADICATION

Effective disease surveillance is a key strategy of the global polio e radication initiative. In an effort to strengthen the quality of polio surveillance as a prerequisite to achieving and certifying eradicatio n, surveillance assessments were conducted in 28 countries in the Worl d Health Organization African, Eastern Mediterranean, and European Reg ions from 1992 to 1995 using a standard protocol and evaluation guidel ines. Six general recommendations were made: Use surveillance data for public health decision-making and action, improve timeliness of infor mation exchange and dissemination, standardize the data collected, ens ure adequate surveillance infrastructure, improve local data analysis, and enhance teamwork among surveillance partners. The experience gain ed will position the Expanded Programme on Immunization to address the challenges of disease prevention in the 21st century.