UNICEF, WHO Call For Urgent Action Against Polio, Measles Epidemics
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have said urgent actions were needed to avert major measles and polio epidemics which pose threat to millions of vulnerable children around the world.
The organizations made the call on Friday, noting that COVID-19 has continued to disrupt immunisation services worldwide.
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They estimated that the sum of $655m ($400m for polio and $255m for measles) was needed to address dangerous immunity gaps in non-Gavi eligible countries and target age groups.
WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, said despite the devastating effect of COVID-19 on health services, particularly, the organization has the necessary “tools and knowledge to stop polio and measles diseases.”
Tedros noted that, “What we need are the resources and commitments to put these tools and knowledge into action. If we do that, children’s lives will be saved.”
On her part, UNICEF Executive Director, Henrietta Fore, said the fight against COVID-19 should not deter the fight against other diseases.
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“Addressing the global COVID-19 pandemic is critical. However, other deadly diseases also threaten the lives of millions of children in some of the poorest areas of the world.
“That is why today we are urgently calling for global action from country leaders, donors and partners. We need additional financial resources to safely resume vaccination campaigns and prioritize immunization systems that are critical to protect children and avert other epidemics besides COVID-19,” she noted.
