Justice

The End of Polio

By willw / 16 August 2011

Our generation stands on the brink of eradicating the second human disease in history. Global efforts ensured the eradication of smallpox in 1979, now we have the opportunity to rid the world of polio, a debilitating and potentially fatal disease that threatens the lives and prosperity of millions. It’s sometimes hard to see that humanity is making any progress against injustice, and ending polio would show a generation that change isn’t just possible, it’s real.

 

That’s why the Global Poverty Project has just launched a new campaign called The End of Polio. Over the next few months, we’ll be working with Rotary International, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to build the public support needed to eradicate this disease.

 

Global collaboration over the past 30 years has reduced polio cases by 99%, and put the end of this disease within reach. But this eradication opportunity is currently at risk, with a funding gap constraining the work of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, the public-private partnership leading eradication efforts. That’s why we’re calling on world leaders to support eradication.

 

Already, the campaign is having incredible impact. It is putting this issue back in the headlines, and grabbing the attention of decision makers in Canberra, Australia. This is great news, as we are calling on the Australian Government to place polio eradication on the agenda at the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to be held in Perth during October.

 

Since we launched, more than 1,000 people have joined our call on governments to support the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, and realise the end of this disease. Now we need to scale up our efforts to build public support for eradication. Please share our campaign with friends, and join the call for world leaders to help end this disease for future generations around the world!

 

 

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Will Watterson is the NZ Country Director for the Global Poverty Project, an organisation dedicated to increasing the number and effectiveness of people taking action on extreme poverty.