Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed praised for 'unwavering support' in global efforts to eradicate polio

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi lauded by Unicef for long-standing fight against childhood diseases

The UAE is closely involved in efforts to eradicate polio in Pakistan.

Healthcare workers gave 28 million vaccine doses to more than 16 million children in Pakistan between July and September 2020.

Since 2014, the UAE has contributed more than $200m towards the eradication of polio in Pakistan. It has delivered 483 million doses of polio vaccine and immunised more than 86 million children.

Microsoft founder Bill Gates has praised the work of the UAE in fighting polio in Pakistan.

In the first six months of 2021, Pakistan reported only one case of wild polio. In 2020, it reported 77 cases of polio and 147 in 2019, according to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

To be certified a polio-free nation, Pakistan must report no affected children over a three-year period.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, was praised for his "unwavering support" of global efforts to combat polio and other childhood diseases.

The UN children's fund said Sheikh Mohamed and the UAE had played a key role in ensuring young people were immunised against diseases, even during the pandemic.

The Emirates Polio Campaign, launched in 2014, has continued to provide vital immunisation to millions of children in Pakistan during the coronavirus crisis.

Healthcare workers gave 28 million vaccine doses to more than 16 million children in Pakistan from July to September this year.

"The leadership and unwavering support from the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the UAE is helping countries fight Covid-19 and safely resume immunisation activities against polio and other deadly childhood diseases," Unicef tweeted on Wednesday.

Sheikh Mohamed has long championed the "last mile" strategy to finally make the world free of polio.

Today the disease remains endemic in only Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Last year, the UAE-Pakistan Assistance Programme announced more than 86 million children had been vaccinated from 2014 to the end of 2020.

Since 2011, Sheikh Mohamed  has pledged more than $250 million to support efforts to eradicate polio.

In 2019, he hosted the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in Abu Dhabi that raised more than $2.6 billion.