Poliomyelitis | GlobalPost

Gunmen kill polio worker in Pakistan

Agence France-PresseMay 28, 2013 09:19

Gunmen killed a female health worker taking part in a WHO-supported anti-polio drive in northwest Pakistan Tuesday, police said, the latest in a series of deadly attacks on vaccination teams. Two attackers on a motorcycle opened fire on the team on the edge of the city of Peshawar, near the restive Khyber tribal region where the military has been battling homegrown insurgents with links to the Taliban.

Bill Gates hopeful of more aid from China

Agence France-PresseMay 28, 2013 01:32

The world's richest man Bill Gates Tuesday urged China to become a bigger player in foreign development following its success in lifting millions of its own people out of poverty. Speaking in Australia, where the Microsoft co-founder met with Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Gates said the Asian powerhouse was already giving foreign aid but there were "very little facts and figures" on how much. "I am hopeful that Chinese aid, both in terms of the quality of the aid and the quantity of the aid, will continue to increase," he told a lunch address in Canberra.

Gates' foundation to fund $1.8bn to eradicate polio

Agence France-PresseApril 25, 2013 08:31

Bill Gates announced in Abu Dhabi on Thursday his foundation will contribute $1.8 billion to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, a third of the total funds needed. "I am pleased to announce for the foundation that we are committed to fund a third of what is needed for this campaign," the Microsoft co-founder told the Global Vaccine Summit in Abu Dhabi. "So for the fully funded campaign, that would be $1.8 billion that we are committed to." "There has been a total of four billion dollars raised here. That gives us 73 percent of" the $5.5 billion needed, he said.

New $5.5 billion plan aims to rid world of polio by 2018

Thomson ReutersApril 25, 2013 08:16

By Kate Kelland, Health and Science Correspondent LONDON (Reuters) - Health groups said on Thursday they could rid the world of polio by 2018 with a $5.5 billion (3.5 billion pounds) vaccination and monitoring plan to stop the disease taking hold once more now there are only a handful of cases worldwide. Experts say the plan offers the best chance yet to eradicate a disease that until the 1950s crippled many thousands of people every year but has been brought almost to extinction though effective vaccine campaigns.

Pakistani scientist leads Global Declaration on Polio Eradication

AsianetApril 15, 2013 16:05

Hundreds of scientists, doctors and other experts from around the world launched the Scientific Declaration on Polio Eradication. Declaring that an end to the paralysing disease is achievable and endorsing a comprehensive new strategy to secure a lasting polio-free world by 2018.A statement said that the declaration’s launch coincides with the 58th anniversary of the announcement of Jonas Salk’s revolutionary vaccine - the Microbiologist who had developed the first polio vaccine.

Pakistani Taliban deny anti-polio attacks

Agence France-PresseApril 12, 2013 08:46

The Pakistani Taliban on Friday denied any involvement in attacks on polio workers, which have killed 21 people since December, but confirmed it opposed the vaccination as "un-Islamic." The umbrella militant faction last year banned polio vaccinations in the tribal region of Waziristan, alleging the campaign was a cover for espionage. Rumours about vaccines being a plot to sterilise Muslims have also dogged efforts to tackle the highly infectious disease in Pakistan, one of only three countries where it remains endemic.

Gunmen kill Pakistani policeman during polio drive

AsianetApril 11, 2013 15:04

Police say gunmen shot to death a policeman protecting a team of female polio workers during a U.N.-backed vaccination campaign in a village of northwestern Pakistan.Police officer Mohammed Nabi Khan says another police officer was wounded in Wednesday's attack in the district of Mardan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.He says no polio workers were harmed since they were inside a home giving polio drops to children at the time of the attack.

Anti-polio fight to continue

AsianetApril 11, 2013 06:02

Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Najam Sethi has asked the departments concerned to continue anti-polio campaign in the province as well as motive the parents to protect the future of their children by getting polio drops administered to them.“Polio is a dangerous disease and might result in permanent disability, therefore Punjab government is vigorously pursuing anti-polio campaign throughout the province.

Demand to probe financial fraud in anti-polio drive

AsianetApril 11, 2013 05:47

Expressing concern over the alleged financial corruption in the polio-eradication funds in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the ulema engaged in the campaign demanded an inquiry against the health officials responsible for misappropriation.Addressing a press conference here at press club, the National Research and Development Foundation (NRDF) former provincial coordinator Maulana Jehanzeb alleged that health officials working under the Unicef anti-polio program were failed to eliminate polio, while the huge funds reserved for the campaign were not appropriately used in the province.F

Pakistan policeman killed in anti-polio attack

Agence France-PresseApril 10, 2013 05:00

A Pakistani policeman was shot dead and another was wounded on Wednesday while escorting a polio vaccination team in the country's northwest, local officials said. No one has claimed responsibility for the killings, but the Pakistani Taliban last year banned polio vaccinations in the tribal region of Waziristan, alleging the campaign was a cover for espionage. Rumours about vaccines being a plot to sterilise Muslims have also dogged efforts to tackle the highly infectious disease.