Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of International Cooperation and Minister for la Francophonie and Official Languages announced that Canada, through the Canadian International Development Agency, would allocate $5 million to immunize over seven million children in Afghanistan. These funds will be allocated to the World Health Organization and UNICEF as part of the global polio eradication initiative. This initiative seeks to eliminate polio so no child will ever again suffer permanent polio paralysis.
The conflict in southern Afghanistan has hindered vaccination of all children, resulting in a resurgence of this disease, especially in Kandahar and Helmand provinces.
During his visit to Canada, President Karzai requested Canada's assistance in helping to eradicate polio from Afghanistan. Canada heard the call and acted swiftly.