Canada’s new contribution to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative

Today Canada announced a new contribution of $100 million over three fiscal years (between fiscal years 2017 to 2018 and 2019 to 2020) to the Global Polio Eradication Initiatives’ (GPEI’s) Endgame Strategic Plan.   

Canada’s support will be allocated to the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, the two main implementers of the GPEI, as follows:

• $70 million for global support to polio eradication efforts
  • $40 million to the WHO
  • $30 million to UNICEF

This support will enable the GPEI to have the required flexibility to allocate funds to where it is most needed, as well as react swiftly to unforeseen challenges;

• $30 million to support polio eradication efforts in Afghanistan
  • $15 million to the WHO      
  • $15 million to UNICEF

This additional funding will be used to increase vaccination campaigns, including improved social mobilization and outreach methods to reach every single child in order to achieve and sustain polio-free status.