Al Bhatti
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Apr 24, 2013
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed pledges further Dh440m to global vaccine drive
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, today pledged a donation of Dh440 million to support global efforts to eradicate polio by 2018, ahead of the Global Vaccine Summit kicking off tonight.
The donation will be targeted at Pakistan and Afghanistan in an effort to eradicate the preventable infectious disease.
"Saving generations of children from preventable diseases is a humanitarian initiative that can only be achieved through global collaboration," Sheikh Mohammed said.
"Under the leadership of President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE strives to engage in global partnerships that solve these significant international issues.
"With global polio cases at a record low, the world has a historic opportunity to eradicate this debilitating disease within the next six years.
"Together, the international community can successfully tackle this challenge at this critical moment to create a world without polio for the lasting benefit of future generations."
The Global Vaccine Summit opens tonight and continues tomorrow in the capital. It will bring together 300 global leaders in the fields of medicine and business, including Microsoft chairman Bill Gates and United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon.
"Hosting the summit is a reflection of the UAE's commitment to continue to serve as a meaningful facilitator of international humanitarian initiatives," Sheikh Mohammed said.
A partnership between Sheikh Mohammed and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has already contributed greatly to the fight to give children worldwide the vaccine they need.
In 2011, they made a combined donation of US$100m (Dh367m) to fund the purchase and delivery of vital vaccines to the children of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Through this partnership, $34m has been spent delivering 85 million doses of oral polio vaccine in the two countries and an additional $66m has been allocated to the delivery of pentavalent and pneumococcal vaccines in Afghanistan.
It is estimated that the partnership will deliver pentavalent vaccines to a total of 3.94 million children and pneumococcal vaccines to up to 3.96 million children.
Since 2011, Sheikh Mohammed has also given another Dh121m to help poverty-stricken children get vaccines.
Despite significant progress, millions of children do not receive the vaccines they need. Every 20 seconds a child dies from diseases that can be prevented with existing vaccines.
Polio, once a disease that caused widespread fear because of its crippling effects, is now more than 99 per cent eradicated.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed pledges further Dh440m to global vaccine drive - The National
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed pledges further Dh440m to global vaccine drive
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, today pledged a donation of Dh440 million to support global efforts to eradicate polio by 2018, ahead of the Global Vaccine Summit kicking off tonight.
The donation will be targeted at Pakistan and Afghanistan in an effort to eradicate the preventable infectious disease.
"Saving generations of children from preventable diseases is a humanitarian initiative that can only be achieved through global collaboration," Sheikh Mohammed said.
"Under the leadership of President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE strives to engage in global partnerships that solve these significant international issues.
"With global polio cases at a record low, the world has a historic opportunity to eradicate this debilitating disease within the next six years.
"Together, the international community can successfully tackle this challenge at this critical moment to create a world without polio for the lasting benefit of future generations."
The Global Vaccine Summit opens tonight and continues tomorrow in the capital. It will bring together 300 global leaders in the fields of medicine and business, including Microsoft chairman Bill Gates and United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon.
"Hosting the summit is a reflection of the UAE's commitment to continue to serve as a meaningful facilitator of international humanitarian initiatives," Sheikh Mohammed said.
A partnership between Sheikh Mohammed and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has already contributed greatly to the fight to give children worldwide the vaccine they need.
In 2011, they made a combined donation of US$100m (Dh367m) to fund the purchase and delivery of vital vaccines to the children of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Through this partnership, $34m has been spent delivering 85 million doses of oral polio vaccine in the two countries and an additional $66m has been allocated to the delivery of pentavalent and pneumococcal vaccines in Afghanistan.
It is estimated that the partnership will deliver pentavalent vaccines to a total of 3.94 million children and pneumococcal vaccines to up to 3.96 million children.
Since 2011, Sheikh Mohammed has also given another Dh121m to help poverty-stricken children get vaccines.
Despite significant progress, millions of children do not receive the vaccines they need. Every 20 seconds a child dies from diseases that can be prevented with existing vaccines.
Polio, once a disease that caused widespread fear because of its crippling effects, is now more than 99 per cent eradicated.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed pledges further Dh440m to global vaccine drive - The National
