Cairo – “This year marks the 10th anniversary since Egypt was declared free of polio,” said Dr. Anne Patterson, Deputy Mission Director for USAID in Egypt, as the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population launched the next round of Egypt’s National Polio Immunization Campaign.  The United States Government was proud to have supported Egypt’s campaign, which successfully eliminated polio in 2006.  In the last two years, the United States Government has contributed over $9 million to support the next phase of the campaign, which will keep Egypt polio-free.

This round of the National Polio Immunization Campaign will provide the second dose of polio vaccine to nearly 15 million children under the age of five.  Two doses of oral polio vaccine protect young children from being infected with this crippling disease. The Ministry of Health and Population conducted the first round of the National Polio Immunization Campaign in April 2015.

Since 1978, the United States Government through USAID has invested nearly $30 billion in Egypt.  In partnership with the Egyptian government, USAID investments have led to better health, an 80 percent reduction in infant mortality, 40,000 more jobs in the last two years alone, and improved infrastructure throughout the country.