1.3 billion AED Provided by the UAE
The world celebrates World Polio Day today, Thursday, October 24.
It is an annual event that acknowledges the significant role of the UAE in eradicating polio.
As well as its active contribution in funding and supporting wide-scale vaccination campaigns.
The UAE plays a leading role in global efforts to eliminate polio.
It is actively providing life-saving vaccines to protect millions of hard-to-reach children in many countries, especially Pakistan.
Since 2011, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has contributed more than 1.3 billion AED to global polio eradication efforts.
Through “Reaching the Last Mile” initiative, this includes the UAE Polio Vaccination Campaign in Pakistan.
Let’s See the UAE’s Efforts to Eradicate Polio
Since the launch of campaign in 2014 and up until September 2023, it has successfully distributed over 700 million doses of polio vaccine to children in Pakistan.
On August 30, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed directed to provide 5 million USD to support an emergency polio vaccination campaign in Gaza.
Following the first recorded case of the virus in the region.
The campaign aims to vaccinate more than 640,000 children.
It reflects the UAE’s unwavering commitment to support the people in Gaza.
Especially by providing health care and protection to children in challenging conditions.
150 tons of food and shelter supplies were collected, with the participation of 2,287 volunteers at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). With these in-kind donations of relief aid, the #UAE_With_You_Lebanon campaign has collected 1,100 tons by the end of the… pic.twitter.com/HlMuUOu6wI
— UAE Voice (@uae_voiceeng) October 23, 2024
The UAE’s efforts in fighting polio reflect its steadfast commitment.
In addition to its humanitarian principles in assisting the needy and impoverished populations, developing human development programs, and prioritizing the health and well-being of children worldwide, especially in providing preventive healthcare.
World Polio Day Celebrates Huge Progress
In world polio day, it is worth noting that in 1988, there were around 350,000 polio cases globally.
Decades of progress and by the work of thousands specialists, polio cases have decreased 99%.
Polio is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects children under five years.
The virus spreads from person to person, attacks the nervous system, and can cause paralysis.
Any unvaccinated individual is at risk of contracting the disease.
