Poliomyelitis Eradication in Iran: Opportunities and Challenges

Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education: Eradication of poliomyelitis in Iran is a significant health achievement regarding a vaccine-preventable disease which used to paralyze tens of children every year. This has prevented considerable suffering and has saved millions of dollars which would have been otherwise spent on vaccination and hospital care of polio patients. Eradication of a vaccine preventable disease like polio will ensure further commitment of high level decision-makers and politicians to heath programs and hence their moral and financial support for prevention and control of both communicable and non-communicable diseases in the country.