ISLAMABAD: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced on behalf of the Polio Eradication Initiative that the United Arab Emirates has made available $23 million funding for polio campaigns in Pakistan, which reported a 98 per cent decline in polio cases in the last six months.

Moreover, around $376,000 has been allocated for procurement of personal protective equipment for protection of frontline workers against Covid-19 in 84 highest-risk districts. The funding and donation will be utilized till Dec 2021. The funding will enable the polio programme to keep up the momentum of implementing monthly polio campaigns targeting 16 million children in the highest-risk districts of Pakistan.

Since 2014, UAE has contributed over $200 million to polio eradication efforts in the country.

Speaking on behalf of the Polio Eradication Initiative partners, WHO representative Dr Palitha Mahipala thanked the UAE for its contribution.

“UAE has firmly stood by the polio programme with vital yearly contributions and responding to pleas for extra funding to address unforeseen challenges such as Covid-19.

“With their steadfast commitment to the shared goal of polio eradication, we can further strengthen our efforts to protect children from lifelong paralysis,” he said.

Pakistan has reported only one wild polio case in the first six months of the current year. This is a significant decrease of over 98pc compared to 59 cases during the same period last year.

According to a statement, UAE continues its role through their Pakistan Assistance Programme (UAE-PAP) to ensure that further gains can be made where it is needed the most.

The initiative of his highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to eradicate polio globally, the “Emirates Polio Campaign,” has been instrumental in driving on-the-ground eradication gains and efforts within the most vulnerable communities in Pakistan.

In 2020, the UAE-PAP support ensured close to 16 million children under five years received protection through repeated polio campaigns under the “Emirates Polio Campaign”.

Director of UAE’s Pakistan Assistance Programme Abdulla Khalifa Alghfeli praised the humanitarian approach and the support of Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

National Coordinator of the Emergency Operations Centre Dr Shahzad Baig welcomed the UAE’s contribution for conducting timely door-to-door campaigns for polio eradication.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2021