Fiji, Nov. 12 -- The Western Pacific region is celebrating 25 years since being declared free of indigenous wild poliovirus, but the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned countries not to become complacent as global health challenges continue to evolve.

"It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the thirty-first meeting of the Regional Commission for the Certification (RCC) of Poliomyelitis Eradication in the Western Pacific.

"This year, we are especially delighted to greet our newest Member State, Indonesia," said Dr Saia Ma'u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific in Tokyo, congratulating Indonesia's National Certification Committee for joining what he called the region's "polio eradication family."

He said the m...