Reflections on how Latin America and the Caribbean defeated polio and sustained immunization programs
The last case of wild polio in the United States was recorded in 1979. Latin America and the Caribbean celebrated its victory over the lethal childhood infection more than 26 years ago, making the Americas the first region of the world to eliminate the disease. Retired director of PAHO, Sir George Alleyne, describes the story of how the region became the first to defeat the once lethal childhood infection and how it has sustained its infectious disease control programs since as one filled with good fortune, intrigue, political will, the value of effective public policy and planning, and value of stakeholder buy-in.