RIBI welcomes the announcement by International Development Secretary, Justine Greening, that the UK will provide £10m for a vital polio vaccination campaign in Somalia and Kenya.
The UK funding will help up to six million people gain access to vaccinations in the two countries, allowing the World Health Organisation to continue a vital vaccination campaign to tackle the first outbreak in Somalia since 2007.
Justine Greening said: "While the world has almost eradicated polio, this new outbreak shows that we cannot rest until we have stamped it out completely. There is a very real risk that this outbreak could quickly become a problem across the entire region. We must act now to stop this deadly and debilitating disease from spreading further."
An outbreak of polio was detected in the Banaadir district of Somalia’s capital, Mogasdishu and in the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya in May this year. They are the first recorded cases of the disease in Somalia since 2007 and in Kenya since 2011.
RIBI President Nan McCreadie said: “We are very pleased that the government has recognised the deadly nature of this disease and the importance of acting quickly to stop it spreading. Rotarians have been working for many years to eradicate polio from the world and intend to continue their efforts by fundraising for End Polio Now until the job is done."
Photo courtesy of UNICEF/Iman Morooka
