Canada Helps Eradicate Polio in Sub-Saharan Africa
Posted
on Sep 15, 2008
Ottawa
– The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, announced oday Canada's support towards eradicating polio in sub-Saharan Africa and Afghanistan, in partnership with Rotary International.
Today's announcement of $30 million will help immunize children in sub-Saharan Africa of which at least $15 million will go to Nigeria, where polio is still endemic. This commitment is in addition to $60 million announced in June of this year towards one of Canada's signature projects to help eradicate polio in Kandahar and throughout Afghanistan.
Today's announcement of $30 million will help immunize children in sub-Saharan Africa of which at least $15 million will go to Nigeria, where polio is still endemic. This commitment is in addition to $60 million announced in June of this year towards one of Canada's signature projects to help eradicate polio in Kandahar and throughout Afghanistan.
"Canada's contribution will ensure that millions of children in Sub-Saharan Africa and Afghanistan are protected against polio, a debilitating illness," said Minister Oda. "Our innovative partnership with Rotary International, along with the World Health Organization and UNICEF will help ensure that we move towards destroying this crippling disease." "Canada has led the way in the fight to eradicate polio from the face of the world," said Wilfrid Wilkinson, President, Rotary International. "As Chairman of Rotary's Polio Eradication Advocacy for Canada, I congratulate the Government for its generosity which is strategically directed to Nigeria and Afghanistan, two of the four remaining polio endemic countries in the world." Canada has committed close to $331 million towards polio eradication and is working to support new immunization strategies in countries where polio remains endemic.