On 8 May 1980, the 33rd World Health Assembly officially declared:
‘The world and all its peoples have won freedom from smallpox.’
The declaration marked the end of a disease that had plagued humanity for at least 3 000 years, killing 300 million people in the 20th century alone.
It was ended, thanks to a 10-year
global effort, spearheaded by the World Health Organization, that
involved thousands of health workers around the world to administer half
a billion vaccinations to stamp out smallpox.
The US$ 300m price-tag to eradicate smallpox saves the world well over US$ 1 billion every year since 1980.
Speaking
at a virtual event hosted at WHO-HQ, involving key players in the
eradication effort, WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
said, “As the world confronts the COVID-19 pandemic, humanity’s victory
over smallpox is a reminder of what is possible when nations come
together to fight a common health threat.”
The world got rid of smallpox thanks to an incredible demonstration of global solidarity, and because it had a safe and effective vaccine. Solidarity plus science equalled solution!
Dr Tedros
highlighted that smallpox eradication also offers hope for efforts to
eliminate other infectious diseases, including polio, which is now
endemic in just two countries. To date, 187 countries, territories and
areas have been certified free of Guinea worm disease, with seven more
to go. And the fight against malaria has so far resulted in 38 countries
and territories certified as malaria-free. In the case of Tuberculosis
(TB), 57 countries and territories with low TB incidence are on track to
reach TB elimination.
At the event, Dr Tedros
unveiled a commemorative postal stamp to recognize the global solidarity
that drove the initiative and honour the efforts of health workers who
ensured its success.
The stamp, developed by the
United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA), in collaboration with WHO,
signifies what national unity and global solidary can achieve. Numerous
countries, such as Guinea, India, Nigeria, Philippines, Togo and others
issued smallpox stamps to show support for, and raise awareness about
WHO’s Intensified Smallpox Eradication Programme launched in 1967.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti’s earliest memories of smallpox is of her father. “I was visiting WHO headquarters, and I saw a photo of my Dad, standing with the other experts on the Global Commission. I remember him going out, doing follow-up visits with patients. He often would go with a driver and disappear into the bush for days. I felt in awe of his tireless work. The strategies used to eradicate smallpox still apply today.”
“Lessons
learned from smallpox are used today to respond to disease outbreaks.
For example, house-to-house active case-finding underpins the polio
eradication programme, and ring vaccination of contacts is helping to
combat the spread of the Ebola virus disease. Similarly, surveillance,
case-finding, testing, contact-tracing, quarantine, and communication
campaigns to dispel misinformation are central to controlling COVID-19, “
explained David Heymann, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology
at The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and
Distinguished Fellow, Global Health Security at Chatham House, London.
Following
smallpox eradication, WHO and UNICEF launched the Expanded Programme on
Immunization, under which 85% of the world’s children are vaccinated
and protected from debilitating diseases.
With the
potential of a COVID-19 vaccine ahead, ensuring sufficient supplies and
reaching people in hard to reach places is a high priority. Addressing
vaccine hesitancy poses a significant challenge to stop the virus.
Access to accurate public health information and education is critical
to ensure that the public has the facts to keep themselves and others
safe.
To permanently commemorate the eradication of smallpox and the lessons learned on a global scale, rather than every 10-years, WHO is calling museums, exhibition companies, designers, curators and associations to develop an immersive, interactive and educational exhibition on smallpox and its relevance for COVID-19 and global health security. The exhibition, which will be unveiled later this year, will promote a better understanding of public health and empower people to keep informed and safe during a pandemic.
