UAE has become a cornerstone in international efforts to eradicate polio

The UAE’s efforts in eradicating polio and its financial support for vaccination campaigns have been recognised globally. The country is a cornerstone in international efforts to tackle the disease, actively providing life-saving vaccines, especially in hard-to-reach areas.

Polio is a highly contagious viral disease, particularly affecting children under five years old. It proliferates across countries through person-to-person contact and attacks the human nervous system, potentially causing paralysis.

UAE polio vaccination campaign in Pakistan

Global efforts to eradicate polio have reduced cases of the disease by 99% since 1988. The UAE is prominently dedicated to combating polio, actively focusing on healthcare access for vulnerable populations and promoting human development initiatives.

Since 2011, UAE President HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed has contributed more than Dh1.3 billion through the “Reaching The Last Mile” initiative. From 2014 to September 2023, the UAE has helped administer over 700 million doses of polio vaccines in Pakistan.

The “Reaching the Last Mile” initiative includes the UAE polio vaccination campaign as part of the UAE Pakistan assistance programme. The Gulf state’s substantial contributions to eradicating the disease in Pakistan has been recognised.

UAE supports polio vaccination campaign in Gaza

This year, His Highness Mohamed bin Zayed directed the provision of $5 million for an emergency polio vaccination campaign in Gaza after the first reported case of the virus in the enclave. The Israel-Hamas conflict has severely affected Gaza’s health sector.

The emergency campaign aims to vaccinate more than 640,000 children in Gaza, reflecting the UAE’s continued commitment to supporting the humanitarian drive in the Palestinian enclave. Such contributions bring the global community closer to eradicating polio entirely.