New funding from the UK for polio eradication will immunize up to 45 million children a year against polio. The United Kingdom is helping make history by eradicating a human disease for just the second time ever, after smallpox.

On August 4, Secretary of State for International Development, Priti Patel announced £100 million in new funding to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, which will help to give the world’s children protection against this crippling disease. “Polio has no place in the 21st Century,” said Priti Patel. British aid has made up 10% of global contributions to the GPEI over the last 30 years.

Thanks to UK aid, 1.6 million people are walking who could have been paralyzed for life had they not been vaccinated against polio. More than 50,000 Rotarians across the UK and even more across the globe have been instrumental in this effort. Rotary brought the partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative together to start this fight, and continues to drive the effort forward through advocacy and fundraising.

The UK’s commitment to tackling extreme poverty, helping the most vulnerable and strengthening health care in fragile states is crucial to addressing the challenges standing in the way of a polio-free world.

Source: polioeradication.org