THE END IS IN SIGHT, HELP US END POLIO!

Posted by Jacquie Gibson

on Oct 24, 2015

WORLD POLIO DAY!

From the field

Nigeria is POLIO FREE!!

This year, only two countries have reported polio cases caused by the wild poliovirus: Afghanistan and Pakistan. Africa has not seen a case in over a year, but our work isn’t done yet. These photos offer a glimpse into the effort to end the disease that once affected 350,000 children a year

Yes! Today is World Polio Day

It’s World Polio Day and we’re closer than ever to ending the disease for good.

Now that Nigeria has stopped polio, we are one step closer to a polio-free world. But our fight isn’t over. There’s still work to be done in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the two remaining polio-endemic countries. Donate today and your donation will be matched 2-to-1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Afghanistan

Fewer than 10 cases have been reported in Afghanistan so far in 2015. Strengthening immunization campaigns is key to stopping polio in the country.

Pakistan

According to experts, Pakistan will prove the biggest challenge to global eradication efforts, with the country accounting for nearly 90 percent of the world’s cases in 2014. However, we’ve seen recent progress in Pakistan, with the country reporting a near 75 percent reduction in cases in the first half of 2015 compared to the same time in 2014.

Africa

Nigeria saw its last polio case on 24 July 2014. The World Health Organization may soon remove Nigeria from the list of polio-endemic countries. When all of Africa goes three years without a case of polio, WHO will certify the region as polio-free.