Polio is a debilitating and potentially fatal disease. When the virus strikes it invades the nervous system and can cause irreversible, sometimes fatal, paralysis in a matter of hours. Polio mainly affects children under five.
Thanks to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) the total number of polio cases has dropped from 350,000 in 1988 to 650 in 2011 and only 100 so far in 2012. These numbers are promising, but without immediate action, the number of children paralyzed each year will rise to 200,000 in a decade and we will miss our chance to eradicate polio forever!
Children in the world’s three remaining polio endemic countries (Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan) remain at risk and the global health community remains on edge, as polio is beginning to re-emerge in many African countries as well. In 2010, 23 previously polio-free countries were re-infected, including China for the first time in 16 years. As long as a single child remains infected, children in all countries are at risk of contracting the disease. Now is the time to stop polio.
Currently there is no cure for polio, but it can be prevented! The polio vaccine protects a child for life.
Polio: A Global Health Emergency
At the World Health Assembly in May, the global community resolved to end polio by declaring polio a “public health emergency”. This was a call to action to the world - either eradicate polio now or else risk reversing the hard won gains over the last two decades. We have the tools, but the GPEI is facing a funding gap for 2012-2013 of close to $1 billion. These cut backs have meant that polio-eradication has been scaled-back in 33 countries. The Lancet estimates that approximately 94 million children globally will not be immunized, creating an inevitable breeding ground for a polio resurgence.
Political will is the biggest obstacle to ending polio
The GPEI has been working to ensure that every child is vaccinated against this terrible disease. But government donors like Canada have a role to play in contributing financial and technical resources for mass-immunizations campaigns. Canada must also encourage new donors to join this effort.
Canada has been a leader on the polio-eradication front as the fifth largest donor to the GPEI. Over the last decade, Canada has consistently contributed approximately $30-35 million to the GPEI every year. In 2012-2013 Canada contributed $35 million, but it is anticipated that Canada’s spending is set to decline. Canada has promised $14.5 million in 2013 and just $5 million in 2014.
Year |
Canadian Contribution to the GPEI |
2012-2013 |
$35 Million |
2013-2014 |
$14.5 Million |
2014-2015 |
$5 Million |
What you can do
A polio-free world is possible – but we need your voice! This September the GPEI is calling on the Canadian Government and world leaders to show bold leadership and mobilize the political and global will, as well as resources and funding needed to ensure that no child suffers from this debilitating disease ever again.
Call on the Government of Canada to maintain our current commitment of $35 million per year to the GPEI at the United Nations General Assembly global replenishment event on September 27th.
