Shockingly close to a polio free world

  • Print
Details
Published on Saturday, 24 October 2015 08:15
Written by editor
r1 World Polio Day
View in browser Hey PAOV,

“There is hope in dreams, imagination, and in the courage of those who wish to make those dreams a reality.” - Jonas Salk, inventor of the polio vaccine

Before the creation of a vaccine in 1955, polio was a devastating disease that affected millions of people, especially children, every year. Over the past thirty years, political ambition and increased funding for vaccines and treatment has led to an extraordinary milestone: the world is now 99.9% polio free.

Today is World Polio Day and we’re too close to eradicating this devastating disease to stop now. Tweet at Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom to ensure that they... step up and recommit to ending polio for all children and future generations. There are only two countries left - Pakistan and Afghanistan - where new cases of polio remain regularly found. But, this monumental progress can’t be taken for granted. As governments around the world continue tightening their belts, polio funding is under threat.

Next month, leaders from around the world will meet in Malta for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). There are a few national leaders whose government’s continued support for polio eradication is vital, namely: Canadian PM Elect Justin Trudeau, Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull, and UK PM David Cameron. We need their support if we are going wipe out the last .01% of the disease.

Polio doesn’t just affect the person who's infected, but also exhausts the resources families and communities need to survive and thrive. Ongoing medical treatment costs pile up and unemployment makes it significantly harder on $1.90 a day for families to put food on the table.

To mark World Polio Day, join the global community in calling on Commonwealth Leaders to commit to ending polio for good at next month’s CHOGM. Eradicating polio would stand as one of humanity's greatest achievements. It would serve as a catalyst to unlock untapped resources and potential that will help finally end extreme poverty once and for all.

Let's keep up the pressure.

Thanks for doing what you do -

Tom and the Global Citizen team Privacy | r0