Daijiworld Media Network (SR)
UAE, Jun 9: Since the launch of Emirates Polio Campaign in 2014 till April 30 2019 over 407 Million drops of polio vaccine have been delivered to children in Pakistan, announced the UAEPAP (UAE-Pakistan Assistance Programme).
Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only countries in the world that has failed to stop transmission of polio virus. The United Arab Emirates from 2014 are working hard and helping the Pakistani government to eradicate the virus.
The aid falls under the directives of the President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with the support of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and the follow-up of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
Since 2011, Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed has donated $167 million (Dh613 million) to support global efforts to eradicate poliomyelitis, focusing particularly on Pakistan and Afghanistan
Director of the UAE-PAP, Abdullah Khalifa Alghfeli, who is spearheading the project has unveiled a comprehensive report on UAE's polio vaccination campaign over the years. In 2019 alone in the first four months 36 million doses of the vaccine have been delivered and fourteen million children have received polio drops monthly, Alghfeli said.
The campaign is supported by more than 97,000 polio workers which included doctors and nurses and a 25,000 strong team of security, coordinators and management personnel.
The campaign is being run in various regions of Pakistan with the support of more than 97,000 polio workers, including doctors and nurses, and a 25,000-strong team of management and coordination of safety and security personnel. All together 83 districts are classified as high risk areas.
The director of UAE-PAP also praised the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation for supporting UAE's campaign and for its strategic partnership with Sheikh Mohamed's initiative to eradicate the deadly virus by funding half of the campaign.