DAVOS, Switzerland, January 28, 2011 / PRNewswire / -
– Citing the significant gains made with thepolio vaccines, Prime Minister David Cameron and Bill and Melinda Gatesurge world leaders to finish the job
British Prime Minister David Cameron, said today that Britaincould double its current contribution to the eradication of polio.
Cameron urged other donors to support the Global Polio EradicationInitiative while announcing the commitment of the United Kingdom, which willwitnessed there are 45 million children fully immunized againstthe disease.
20 years, polio cases have dropped by 99%, and diseaseis currently close to being the second in history – after thesmallpox – to have been eradicated. In 2010, India and Nigeria -historically the toughest challenges of eradication – have reduced theirWhere 95%. Nevertheless, at present there remains poliomore than a dozen countries, crippling and killing children.
Prime Minister Cameron said: “I firmly believe that we have alifetime opportunity to rid the world of the evil of polio.We have the vaccines and the tools to get it. Allis missing is a real and sustained policy to see how this effort goes toan end. “
“This is the reason why today announced that the UK isprepared to achieve a complete vaccination additional 45 millionchildren against polio, doubling our support for the Global Polio EradicationInitiative over the next two years. “
“In return for this commitment we have asked other donorsdo your part, and the affected countries to strengthen their programsroutine immunization. “
“We are very close to eradicating polio. We are very close to gettinga polio-free world for all our children. Let’s finish the job. Andgoing to eradicate polio once and for all. “
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Bill Gates announcedthat the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has committed an additionalof $ 102 million to support efforts for the completion ofthis disease.
“The end of the last 1% of polio requires the kind of leadershippolitical shown today by the UK Government and Prime MinisterCameron, “said Gates.” The eradication of polio requires ainnovative thinking and political will also fund a range ofdonors to support an aggressive program that will serve toget the job done. “
Andrew Mitchell, Secretary of State for International Development of GreatBritain, said: “Britain is leading the fight against polio.We have provided funding for 1,200 million vaccine dosespolio for children over the past two years, and increased ourcommitment means that many millions more will have protection fromthis terrible disease. “
“The ultimate goal of complete eradication can only be achieved ifother countries and organizations do their part and provide funds. “
Dr. Margaret Chan, director general of the WorldHealth, who leads the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), joinedthe prime minister and Gates on the ad.
“These new investments have occurred at a vital time of thefight against polio, “said Dr. Chan.” We now have awindow of opportunity, with the lowest number of cases never achieved.But if polio still exists somewhere, we will be at risk ofpolio suffer anywhere. Only ensure that polio eradicationnot emerge again as a global threat. “
new funds in the UK, also announced this week supportHis Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince ofAbu Dhabi, will help get the funding gap of 720 milliondollars.
Polio remains endemic in four countries -Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan – and there have been outbreaks ofdisease last year in Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) andTajikistan.
The new funds will help purchase vaccines and conduct ofimmunization activities by the GPEI. In the next two years,over 3,000 million doses of oral polio vaccines will be neededto immunize children. Necessary funds to carry outactivities such as surveillance and technical assistance. Personnel engaged in thepolio eradication is now the largest single source of technical assistance forimmunization in low-income countries. The program will also providenew funds for relief efforts in areas such as the Republic ofCongo, which has recently undergone major virus outbreaks.
Last year, the World Economic Forum, Bill and Melinda Gatesindicated that the next 10 years will be the Decade of Vaccines. The visionis to achieve a world that in 10 years the global health communityhas convened to provide life-saving vaccines to every childneeded, in addition to investing in vaccines that do not exist.
This first year has seen significant success in: - A new meningitis vaccine launched in Burkina Faso - The Advance Market Commitment mechanism to achieve GAVI funds for the deployment of pneumococcal vaccine in Latin America and Africa - Reductions unprecedented polio in Nigeria (up to 19 cases compared to 388 in 2009) and India (41 cases versus 741 in 2009) - Progress significant in the development of a viable vaccine against malaria
vaccines partners worldwide are coming together to define theGlobal Vaccine Action Plan which aims to guide the discovery,development and delivery of vaccines used to save lives in thenext decade.
NOTES FOR EDITORS Aboutad polio in the UK in Davos in January 2011
Pendingtwo conditions, the UK will double its support forGPEI over the next two years (to an annual 40 millionpounds), which will help to secure additional fully immunized45 million children. The two conditions will apply only to the 20million additional pounds each year:
- First, this additional support is supported by the increased commitment to strengthening routine immunization. The routine, based on immunization programs in the country is vital to ensure that polio eradication can be maintained in the future. Countries need to ensure that the capacity of national health systems are a priority now if they expect maintain eradication in the future. - Secondly, that our support has the additional effect of improving a superior effort from others in order to expand and deepen funds through matched funding basis. - How does base pairing? For every $ 5 promised by others from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2012, the UK will increase its support by $ 1 up to 40 million additional pounds announced.
challenge the UK is aimed at helping to expand GPEIdonor base and strengthen sustainable funding options are tothe future and create an opportunity for others to get involved.
About the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation &
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill &Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people leada healthy and productive lives. In developing countries focusesto improve the health of people and give them the opportunity to leave thehunger and extreme poverty. In the U.S., seeks to ensure that allpeople, especially those with fewer resources, have access to theopportunities they need to succeed in school and in life. Basedin Seattle (Washington, USA), the foundation is led by theCEO Jeff Raikes and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr.,under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett. If you want to knowmore http://www.gatesfoundation.org.
have high resolution photos and information aboutwork of the foundation at:http://www.gatesfoundation.org/press-room/Pages/news-market.aspx.
About the Global Polio Eradication Initiative
Global Polio Eradication Initiative is a public-private partnershipled by national governments and propaganda by the OrganizationWorld Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, U.S. Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention (CDC) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Itsaims to eradicate polio worldwide.
U.S. Government, Rotary International, the Government of theIndia, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Government of United Kingdom arethe main founders of the GPEI.
