Bangladesh Eradicates Wild Polio — WHO Certifies Milestone

The World Health Organization has officially certified Bangladesh as wild-poliovirus free — a landmark public health achievement that took 30 years of relentless immunisation campaigns, community health worker mobilisation and cross-border cooperation.

The Immunisation Campaign

Bangladesh's zero-dose vaccination initiative deployed 75,000 community health workers reaching 99.2% of children under five in even the most remote char lands and urban slums. Vaccine cold-chain technology from India and Japan ensured efficacy in a tropical climate.

What Made It Work

Community trust was built through female community health workers who conducted door-to-door campaigns and addressed vaccine hesitancy. Religious leaders, school teachers and local government officials became vaccination champions.