ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates: His Royal Highness Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal AlSaud, Chairman of Alwaleed Philanthropies, joined Bill Gates and leading figures from the international community to announce the first round of funding to a major global initiative to end polio. The commitment was made at the Reaching the Last Mile forum in Abu Dhabi, hosted by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) 'Endgame Strategy 2019-2023' aims to tackle the final obstacles to the eradication of polio and sustain a polio-free future. Bill Gates, representing the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which is one of the leading partners of the GPEI, announced and recognised the first funders of the strategy and called for more donors to come forward in a key pledge moment for the organisation.
Alwaleed Philanthropies' donation of US $2 million to GPEI will support the creation of action plans to expand access to polio vaccination and help reach children everywhere. The support was recognised during the Polio Pledge Moment at today's forum, which brought together all the partner organisations and issued a call to action for others to join.
The donation from Alwaleed Philanthropies is the latest in a long line of strategic and co-ordinated donations to disease eradication, and its second to support the GPEI following a donation of $30 million in 2013. In addition to supporting GPEI, Alwaleed Philanthropies has worked with key partners such as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Carter Center and UNICEF to tackle Guinea Worm disease, river blindness, measles and rubella, amongst other preventable and treatable diseases.
Afterwards, HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal met with Bill Gates, with whom he has a long and productive relationship, to discuss the remaining challenges in global infectious disease eradication.
Commenting on today's pledge and the meeting he said: "Today we have marked an important step in the last push towards a polio free world. Since 1988 an estimated 18 million people are walking today who otherwise would have been paralyzed due to this disease. Donations deliver change, and collaborative efforts deliver it faster and with deeper impact. That's why I am here today with these renowned partners, calling on others to join us in this last battle to end polio for good."
Jenan Al-Mussawi
Telephone: +971 (0)4 368 1642
Jenan.Al-Mussawi@cision.com | www.prnewswire.com
Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. This website is not responsible for, and does not control, such external content. This content is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither this website nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this press release.
The press release is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon. You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and the respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages, including without limitation, lost profits, lost savings and lost revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract or any other theory of liability, even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages.
