Abu Dhabi recently hosted the Heroes of Polio Eradication (HOPE) Awards, which honored five individuals for their work in the fight against polio.
The purpose of the ceremony is to emphasize the significant progress that has been made in eliminating polio from the world health scene. All of the recipients have worked hard to eliminate polio in difficult, dangerous situations.
The recipients include Atta Ullah from Pakistan, who created a new way to educate Pakistan communities about vaccinations; Constant Dedo from Ghana, who was short while serving at a vaccine camp; Lawan Didi Misbahu from Nigeria, who survived polio and created several organizations for polio survivors; and Bibi Malika from Afghanistan, who has been a leader and role model in fighting against polio in regions that are hard to reach.
The recipients received the awards from His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates, and Bill Gates, the co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
“Sharing the hope that all vulnerable children around the world will get equal opportunities in living and accessing treatment against diseases and epidemics, we meet today to recognize the efforts of a number of heroes who have created a new glimpse of hope for children in the world,” His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said.
There is still more work to be done to eliminate polio.
“The five inspiring individuals recognized by the HOPE Awards today represent the thousands of heroes around the world who have selflessly dedicated their lives to bringing an end to polio,” Gates said. “It is because of their contributions, and the support of committed partners like the United Arab Emirates, that we are closer than ever to ensuring that no child is ever paralyzed by this disease again.”
