U.N. Seeks Funds From Muslims to Fight Polio
The U.N. health agency urged wealthy Islamic countries to contribute more to the global campaign to eradicate polio, warning that lack of funds could endanger efforts to wipe out the crippling disease by the end of this year.
The World Health Organization campaign to fight polio has cost $4 billion so far, but states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference have contributed just $3 million, spokeswoman Linda Muller said, even though recent outbreaks of polio have occurred mostly in Islamic countries.
“The time to act is now, we can’t afford to wait,” Muller said.
WHO said it was looking to Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to give more money to its polio eradication campaign. None of those countries has contributed funds.
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