LONDON, 4 July, 2017: RESULTS UK and Global Citizen welcome today’s announcement from the UK Government that they will commit £100m of new funding to help eradicate polio. This additional funding will help immunise 80 million children against polio each minute and fund 15,000 vaccinators, working to reach every child with life-saving vaccines.
Amy Whalley, RESULTS UK Head of Policy, said: “Polio is that rare thing – a disease that can be eradicated. This announcement helps bring eradication closer to reality. The end of this deadly disease is now in sight thanks to the long term support from donors like the UK. The UK can be proud of what they have helped achieve.”
Amy Agnew, Global Citizen Europe Director, said: “Fewer children than ever before are paralysed by polio thanks to the tireless campaigning by over 400,000 Global Citizens along with our partners and the ongoing commitment of the UK government to eradicate preventable diseases. The paralysis of even one child by a preventable disease is unacceptable, and I’m proud to see UK aid help to reach every single child with the polio vaccine.”
In the past 30 years, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) has reached over 2.5 billion children, bringing life-saving vaccines to some of the hardest to reach places on earth. In 2016, there were 37 wild poliovirus cases in three countries—fewer cases of wild poliovirus than ever before. As of July 2017, there are just 8 cases in 2 countries. With the support of donors like DFID, along with governments, health workers and volunteers around the world, the global community can carry forward the momentum on polio and end the disease for good. To achieve a polio-free world, all governments must reaffirm their commitment to eradication, improve campaign quality and strengthen surveillance efforts. This steadfast commitment will help reach more children than ever and ensure that we consign polio to the history books.
For further information, please contact Tom Maguire on [email protected] or on 02077933970.
RESULTS UK is a movement of passionate, committed, everyday people who together use their voices to influence political decisions that will bring an end to poverty. For more information please visit www.results.org.uk.