Global Leaders Commit US$ 2.6 Billion At World Health Summit To End Polio

Tags: Summits National News

Global leaders announced USD 2.6 billion funding for the 'Global Polio Eradication Initiative' (GPEI) 2022-2026 strategy to eradicate polio at the World Health Summit in Berlin.

World Health Summit (WHS)

• It is an international health conference.

• It aims to strengthen exchanges, promote innovative solutions to health challenges, establish global health as a major political issue, and promote dialogue on global health in the spirit of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

What is Polio?

• Polio is a potentially fatal viral infectious disease that affects the nervous system.

• There are three types of polio virus-

1. Wild Polio Virus 1 (WPV1)

2. Wild Polio Virus 2 (WPV2)

3. Wild Polio Virus 3 (WPV3)

• All three types are similar depending on the symptoms and can cause paralysis and death.

• The virus spreads from person to person mainly through the 'faecal-oral route' or through contaminated water or food.