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Written question asked by Alun Cairns (Conservative) on Thursday, 26 November 2020, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 1 December 2020 (named day). It was answered by Wendy Morton (Conservative) on Tuesday, 1 December 2020 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Polio: Disease Control

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he has taken to establish a partnership with Rotary International on the joint goal of eradicating polio.

Answer

Thanks to the joint efforts of Rotary International and the UK Government, we have made major strides in defeating the polio virus. The UK Government appreciates the tireless campaigning and generous fundraising achieved by Rotarians on behalf of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), which has vaccinated millions against polio in the world's poorest countries.

Alongside Rotary, the UK Government has also supported GPEI since 1995 as the second largest sovereign donor. Through our joint commitment and strong advocacy, more than 18 million people are able to walk today who would have otherwise been paralysed by the virus. This decades-long partnership between Rotary International and the UK Government has eliminated the wild polio virus from Africa. We will continue our advocacy together, from the global to the grassroots level, until the wild polio virus is eliminated worldwide.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
121246
Session
2019-21
Subjects
Disease control Polio Rotary International
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk