What is that Polio Picture?  For nine years, Shumaila Majeed has worked as a community-based health worker in Lahore, with a firm belief in empowering women and supporting their important presence in the polio program.

 A Win Against Polio is a Win for Global Health!

That’s something to celebrate!  It’s not yet official, but TRF Trustee Chair John Germ has verbally indicated that we made our 2020-21 $50 Million PolioPlus Fundraising Goal to be matched by the full $100 Million from the Gates Foundation! On to the 2021-22 Year!

On August 4, 2021 The GPEI issued a statement on the recent UK Polio aid cuts.  Here is part of the story:

GPEI statement on the UK aid cuts

As of 4 August 2021

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) was deeply saddened by the UK parliament’s decision to support significant cuts to international aid, which will continue for at least five years. The cuts include a proposed 95% reduction in the contributions made to the GPEI by the UK for 2021. It is not clear whether this percentage reduction will apply in subsequent years but given the lower overall available funding, the GPEI will have to plan for significant funding cuts in the future.  … read the full story

2021 Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Cases – 204 – Afghanistan – 43 (308 in 2020), Angola – 0 (3 in 2020),Benin – 2 (3 in 2020), Burkina Faso – 1 (65 in 2020), Cameroon – 0 (7 in 2020), CAR – 0 (4 in 2020), Chad – 0 (99 in 2020), Congo – 2 (2 in 2020), Cote d’ Ivoire – 0 (61 in 2020), DRC – 10 (81 in 2020), Ethiopia – 6 (36 in 2020), Ghana – 0 (11 in 2020), Guinea – 6 (44 in 2020), Liberia – 3 (0 in 2020),Madagascar – 6 (2 in 2020), Mali – 0 (48 in 2020), Malaysia – 0 (1 in 2020),  Niger – 0 (10 in 2020), Nigeria – 65 (8 in 2020), Pakistan – 8 (135 in 2020), Philippines – 0 (1 in 2020), Senegal  – 13 (0 in 2020) ,Sierra Leone – 4 (10 in 2020), Somalia – 0 (13 in 2020), South Sudan – 9 (50 in 2020), Sudan – 0 (58 in 2020), Tajikistan – 23 (1 in 2020), Togo – 0 (9 in 2020), and Yemen – 3 (33 in 2020).

A total of 1,103 Vaccine Derived Polio cases were reported in 26 countries in 2020.

Quote of the Day

“I am from a generation who has witnessed the devastating effects of Polio.  When I discovered how close we were to eradicating Polio, I was very motivated to be a part of this movement.  It is so rare when you can accomplish something so spectacular.”  Angelique Kidjo, Singer-Songwriter  

The Final Two Polio Endemic Countries:

0 new Polio cases reported this past week.
1 Wild Polio case – 2021. The most recent cases had an onset of paralysis on 1/1/21.
56 Wild Polio cases – 2020.  No WPV1 & CVDPV2-Positive Environmental Sample were reported this week in Afghanistan.

Our Goal is Global Polio Eradication!!

Terry Ziegler, Endowment/Major Gifts Adviser Rotary Region 36