Norway donates NOK 50 million to eradication of polio

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to allocate NOK 50 million to the campaign to eradicate polio. This work has made remarkable progress since the WHO set up a target to eradicate the disease by the year 2005: In 1988 1000 children in 125 countries were contracting polio every day. In 2001 the figure had been reduced to 480 children – per year – in 10 countries. This achievement is due to an exemplary cooperation between the authorities in the countries affected, WHO and UNICEF, the private sector, NGOs and donor countries.

The complete eradication of polio is a demanding task, among other reasons because many of the countries where polio still occurs are in conflict or at war. It also continues to require heavy investments. Norway’s contribution is intended to help meet the financial target of USD 275 million. The global campaign is concentrating on vaccination and monitoring the occurrence of the disease.

"Poverty and ill-health are indissolubly linked in a vicious circle. Thus cost-effective prevention in the form of, for example, vaccination is extremely important. And it is essential to reach the poorest and weakest segments of society. Combating polio helps to promote children’s health in every country. It also helps to promote our own children’s health, since no country in the world will be completely free from the risk of polio until all countries have eradicated the disease," said Minister of International Development Hilde F. Johnson.

In addition to the health benefits, eradicating polio will save USD 1.5 million a year in terms of reduced vaccination costs alone. The campaign to eradicate the disease has also resulted in a general improvement in health care systems in a number of countries.