The Global Polio Eradication Initiative, one of the largest and most expensive public health campaigns in history, has been derailed by mismanagement and what insiders describe as blind allegiance to an outdated strategy and a problematic oral vaccine, according to workers, polio experts and internal materials obtained by the AP.
Dr. Jamal Ahmed, WHO's polio director, defended progress in those two countries. "There's so many children being protected today because of the work that was done over the past 40 years," he said. Ahmed said he believes authorities will end the spread of polio in the next 12 to 18 months. Its latest goal for eradication is 2029.
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