ID :
175150
Wed, 04/13/2011 - 11:54
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https://oananews.org//node/175150
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UAE donates US$100m to Gates Foundation for polio eradication
Abu Dhabi, April 13, 2011 (WAM) - General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has donated US$100 million to Bill and Melinda Foundation’s polio eradication programmes, covering children in Afghanistan and Pakistan where the contagious viral illness is most prevalent in the region.
This was announced by the UAE Minister for Health Dr Hanif Hassan Ali Al Qassim, while inaugurating the 24th regional conference of the World Health Organisation (WHO) for poliomyelitis eradication, held in Dubai on Tuesday.
“The two countries still have enormous numbers of poliomyelitis cases, meanwhile facing several other health challenges in the region, said Dr Al Qassim. About 50 million dollars will be provided to each country to purchase and provide basic vaccinations to save the lives of children,” he added. According to the WHO studies, the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan is severe as wild polioviruses are still circulating enormously in these countries.
Dr Al Qassim said: “The WHO’s regional commission for polio eradication has achieved positive indications that the number of countries which had the communicable disease reduced from the four countries in 2009 to two in 2010.”
“No polio cases have been reported in the UAE after 1992, thanks to the national anti-polio measures effectively implemented to monitor arrival of acute flaccid polio cases. The UAE was declared free of polio in 1998. The last expatriate polio case was registered in the UAE in 1992,” he elaborated.
The WHO’s regional conference reviewed reports of the polio eradication programmes in region and prepared specific recommendations that contribute to the efforts of declaring the countries of the region free of polio. – The Gulf Today
This was announced by the UAE Minister for Health Dr Hanif Hassan Ali Al Qassim, while inaugurating the 24th regional conference of the World Health Organisation (WHO) for poliomyelitis eradication, held in Dubai on Tuesday.
“The two countries still have enormous numbers of poliomyelitis cases, meanwhile facing several other health challenges in the region, said Dr Al Qassim. About 50 million dollars will be provided to each country to purchase and provide basic vaccinations to save the lives of children,” he added. According to the WHO studies, the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan is severe as wild polioviruses are still circulating enormously in these countries.
Dr Al Qassim said: “The WHO’s regional commission for polio eradication has achieved positive indications that the number of countries which had the communicable disease reduced from the four countries in 2009 to two in 2010.”
“No polio cases have been reported in the UAE after 1992, thanks to the national anti-polio measures effectively implemented to monitor arrival of acute flaccid polio cases. The UAE was declared free of polio in 1998. The last expatriate polio case was registered in the UAE in 1992,” he elaborated.
The WHO’s regional conference reviewed reports of the polio eradication programmes in region and prepared specific recommendations that contribute to the efforts of declaring the countries of the region free of polio. – The Gulf Today
