On World Polio Day, observed annually on 24th October, the UAE’s significant efforts to eliminate polio receive global recognition. The country has become a leader in delivering vaccines to children, especially in remote areas like Pakistan, through initiatives like the “Reaching the Last Mile” campaign.
Since 2011, President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyanhas contributed over AED 1.3 billion to the cause. Between 2014 and September 2023, more than 700 million vaccine doses were administered in Pakistan under the UAE’s polio campaign.
Recently, Sheikh Mohamed directed $5 million towards an emergency polio vaccination drive in Gaza, aiming to immunize 640,000 children after the virus reappeared in the region.
The World Health Organization (WHO) praised the UAE’s contributions, with Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighting the country’s key role in the fight to eliminate polio globally. Thanks to such efforts, polio cases worldwide have decreased by 99% since 1988.
Polio, a highly contagious virus affecting mainly children under five, can cause paralysis and spreads through human contact. The UAE’s ongoing initiatives reflect its commitment to healthcare, humanitarian support, and global development.
