WHO Thanks UAE for $5 Million Contribution to Gaza Polio Vaccination Drive

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed gratitude to UAE for donating $5 million to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, vaccinating 640,000 Gaza children. The campaign in collaboration with WHO, UNICEF, and UNRWA, will deliver two doses of the polio vaccine to prevent an outbreak after the virus re-emerged in Gaza.

Geneva [Switzerland], August 31 (ANI/WAM): The Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on Friday, expressed his profound gratitude to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for their significant contribution of USD 5 million to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative aimed at vaccinating 640,000 children against polio in Gaza.

In a statement on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Ghebreyesus said, "Deep gratitude to the UAE and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed for their contribution of USD 5 million to Global Polio Eradication Initiative to vaccinate 640,000 children against polio in Gaza." He further added, "We are grateful for the RLMglobalhealth's (Reaching The Last Mile) continued commitment towards polio eradication and to beat NTDs (neglected tropical diseases)."

President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan earlier today directed funding for a critical polio vaccination drive in Gaza, following the re-emergence of the virus within the territory. The campaign, supported by the USD 5 million pledge from UAE, is set to begin on Sunday, September 1.

Delivered in collaboration with WHO, UNICEF, and UNRWA, the two-round campaign will provide over 640,000 Gazan children under the age of 10 with two doses of the polio vaccine to stop the spread of the virus and prevent a wider regional outbreak. The campaign will commence in Central Gaza and then proceed to South and North Gaza, each phase lasting three days during area-specific humanitarian pauses to enable children and families to access health facilities and community workers to reach children.

In preparation for distribution, 1.26 million doses of the polio vaccine have been delivered to Gaza, with an additional 400,000 doses expected soon. More than 2,100 health workers, including mobile teams, will support the delivery of both rounds of the campaign. Given the overcrowding, displacement, and severely disrupted health, water, and sanitation systems within Gaza, at least 90 percent vaccination coverage is essential during each round to prevent the spread of polio.

Campaign planning commenced after the poliovirus was detected in Gaza in July 2024. The WHO confirmed on August 23 that at least one child in Gaza has been paralyzed by the variant type 2 poliovirus, marking the first such case in the territory in 25 years.

(With inputs from agencies.)