Arab world must do more to fight polio, experts say

[dArKeR]

With polio surging rapidly through Muslim countries, public health officials trying to eradicate it are expressing frustration that wealthy Islamic nations contribute so little to the effort, despite repeated requests.

Fighting the disease has cost nearly US$4 billion since the eradication campaign began in 1985, and the campaign is urgently trying to raise US$250 million to handle this year's new outbreaks, but the Persian Gulf states have given less than US$3 million so far.

"It would be a good sign for Islamic countries to see other Islamic countries giving," said Dr. David Heymann, the World Health Organization director general's representative for polio eradication. "But they've come in more slowly than we expected."

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2005/05/08/2003253683