WHO hails UAE's polio eradication efforts

NARINDER NANU / AFP

The chief of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has praised the UAE's efforts to eradicate polio.

In a Tweet, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus said the world's historic progress to end the disease worldwide would not be possible without the strong commitment of the Emirates.

He also thanked His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, for hosting a fundraising event aimed at encouraging more countries to do their bit to eradicate polio. 

Polio is a crippling and potentially fatal infectious disease caused by the poliovirus.

It is spread from person to person and can affect an infected person's brain and spinal cord, causing paralysis.

More from UAE News

  • UAE pledges additional $200m Sudan funding

    The UAE has pledged an additional $200 million (AED734 million) in humanitarian funding to Sudan, taking the overall total to $3.5 billion. The announcement was made at the High-Level Humanitarian Conference for the People of Sudan, in Addis Ababa.

  • UAE President welcomes Russia's First Deputy PM

    UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with Denis Manturov, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

  • UAE condemns attack on UNIFIL convoy in Lebanon

    The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned the attack that set fire to a convoy of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), near Beirut Airport, which led to the injury of a member of the international force.

  • Rain expected across UAE until Tuesday

    The UAE is set to experience unsettled weather conditions from February 16-18, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).