G20 leaders “reaffirm commitment to eradicate polio”

Political will apparent for Universal Health Coverage, Primary Health Care and polio eradication with Japan’s leadership

At the G20 Osaka Summit 2019, leaders continue historical support. ©G20
At the G20 Osaka Summit 2019, leaders continue historical support. ©G20

In Osaka, Japan, G20 Leaders met on 28-29 June 2019, and discussed major challenges facing the world and the importance of eradicating polio. The G20 declaration states, “We reaffirm our commitment to eradicate polio as well as to end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria and look forward to the success of the sixth replenishment of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.”

The pledging event of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative will be hosted by the UAE in November 2019 to ensure full financing and implementation of the efforts to finish the job.

There has been strong historical political support for polio eradication from both the G7 and the G20, at leaders- and Ministers of health-levels.

The G20 Declaration outlines that “Primary healthcare, including access to medicines, vaccination, nutrition, water and sanitation, health promotion and disease prevention is a cornerstone for advancing health and inclusion.”

The Japanese Presidency has been promoting a powerful global health agenda, both during its G7 Presidency in 2016 and this year at the G20, as a recognition that health is a prerequisite for sustainable and inclusive economic growth. Japan’s leadership has focused on Universal Healthcare Coverage (UHC) and demonstrated essential linkages with programmes contributing to health systems strengthening, and forming integral part of primary health care, including routine immunization and polio eradication.

Japan will be leading the organization of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) high-level meeting on UHC in September 2019 and the consultation process to finalize the political declaration “UHC: Moving Together to Build a Healthier World”.

In addition to the G20 Health Ministers meeting in Okayama in October 2019, Japan will also organize the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Yokohama in the summer 2019, during which it will host the replenishment launch of Gavi, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s newest partner.

Read more: G20 Osaka Leaders’ Declaration


Related News

   15/03/2023
Rotary International President, Jennifer Jones, is on a brief tour of London. Speaking at the House of Commons she said that Rotary had to deliver on its promise to the children of the world that it would help to eradicate polio.
   08/03/2023
In the polio eradication programme, women are forces to be reckoned with. They play important and integral roles at all levels of the programme. We got the perspectives of four women from WHO EMRO who tap into digital innovations to shape decision-making
   06/03/2023
Seventh meeting of the Regional Subcommittee for Polio Eradication and Outbreaks - 28 February 2023
   27/02/2023
This report describes the initiatives implemented by four CSOs supported by the UN Foundation to enhance polio transition and integration efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Nigeria, and South Sudan.
   23/02/2023
Senior representatives from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) today commended the Government of Mozambique for its ongoing polio response efforts to ensure that every child is protected from the devastating impacts of the virus.