In 2014, WHO South Asia Region including Bangladesh was declared a polio-free region by the regional certification committee of WHO South Asia Region. This marked the official recognition for polio eradication from the region, a major public health milestone, and a result of decades of hard work from field dedicated teams of health workers.
SEARO Polio eradication event
Before this great achievement, in 1999 WHO established at district level a network of Surveillance Medical Officers (SMOs) to support the Expanded Programme of Immunization to eradicate polio.
“We knew it can be done”, recalls Dr. Tanbirul Islam who joined WHO’s SMO network in 2009. “It was such a long-standing disease in the country that many doubted it can be eradicated. We supported the delivery of billions of doses of vaccine during the program and the hard work finally paid off”, adds Dr. Islam, currently National Professional Officer for EPI Surveillance and Polio focal point.
The SMOs not only decisively contributed to the polio eradication program, but became WHO’s essential field network, working on strengthening routine immunization, vaccine-preventable disease surveillance, introduction of new vaccines, measles elimination, maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination, etc.
Over the years, the SMOs’ functions spanned from immunization to data analysis, capacity building, and micro-planning and to handle disasters or emergencies, a team reliable to step in for coordination and operations in unprecedented situations. Also, their name changed to SIMOs, Surveillance and Immunization Medical Officers.
When COVID-19 was discovered in the country, within a week of the first case being announced, all SIMOs were repurposed to support every aspect of the COVID-19 response in their districts.
64 SIMO and 7 Divisional Coordinators have been since the start of the pandemic at the front of Bangladesh’s COVID-19 response in every district. They coordinated field activities, built capacity in Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) and contact tracing, supported and ensured timely transportation of laboratory samples, conducted surveillance, transported supplies all over the country.
Sample transportation. WHO Bangladesh/ Tatiana Almeida
“When COVID started in Bangladesh they immediately stepped in, ensuring proper and coordinated field support to the Government at moments when the country needed it the most. While they are still the backbone of the immunization program, they also provide support during emergencies and surveillance related to any health emergency”, says Dr. Balwinder Singh, Medical Officer, Immunization System Strengthening supporting the SIMO network.
SIMOs took a vital role in transporting samples from testing points to the designated laboratories. At the beginning of the COVID-19 emergency, WHO and its SIMOs managed to transport 85% of the country’s samples. By October 2020, SIMOs handled the transportation of over 400,000 samples across the country.
Nearly 100 vehicles operated by WHO, including 13 heavy-duty vehicles and 85 cars, played a vital role in mobilizing crucial logistics for COVID-19 response, from reagents, biohazard bags, gloves, swab sticks, tubes, down to zip-lock bags.
Supplies transportation. WHO Bangladesh
“I am grateful for being part of a great team and I do believe that despite the difficulties and hardships, my work contributes to protect people and save lives”, says Dr. Maleeha Sheefa, WHO SIMO in Dhaka North City Corporation.
Dr. Maleeha during training. WHO Bangladesh/ Jubair Bin Iqbal
After months of continuous work to build capacities and support the strengthening of Government’s capacity for COVID-19 response, the SIMOs took onboard another important task: resuming fast and high-quality routine immunization.
Amidst lockdown and repurposing of vaccinators to COVID-19 response, routine immunization coverage was almost 50% lower in April 2020 as compared to the same period in 2019.
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Immunization during floods. WHO Bangladesh/ Jubair Bin Iqbal
“Vaccination is one of the essential health services that are getting back on track fast. In this process, the work of SIMOs across the country has been instrumental in supporting the Government to resume the lifesaving vaccination activities”, says Dr. Rajendra Bohara, Immunization and Vaccine Development Team Leader, WHO Bangladesh.
As the fight against COVID-19 is still ongoing, the expected emergence of safe and effective vaccines will rely again on the SIMO network to support the implementation of the immunization campaign. A network that was formed to eradicate Polio but then proved itself a valuable resource in all health battles that came since then.
From the early beginning to the end of the pandemic, the SIMO network continues to be instrumental in addressing the health emergency, proving themselves as WHO’s most valuable field resource in providing effective field emergency public health response.