Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.
OTTAWA – Canada is setting aside $151 million for the fight to eradicate polio worldwide.
International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen announced the news at a Rotary International conference in Toronto.
The funding comes a month after Palestinian officials announced the first cases of polio in 25 years in the Gaza Strip.
The funding will support the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, which provides vaccines to children around the world, including more than half a million children in Gaza.
Hussen’s office says the cash should help “the most vulnerable populations” such as women in conflict situations where access to health care is limited.
The World Health Organization says the world is on the verge of eliminating polio, with a 99 percent reduction in cases since 1988.
Over the past 24 years, various Canadian governments have spent $1 billion on the effort.
“Together, we will end polio and build a healthier future for children everywhere,” Hussen wrote in a statement.
There is no cure for polio, which can cause paralysis that tends to be permanent, including to the muscles used to breathe.
Still, vaccination campaigns have come under strain as humanitarian crises and the COVID-19 pandemic divert resources and make it harder to vaccinate children.
This report was first published by The Canadian Press on September 20, 2024.
Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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