Briefing to Arab Media by the United Nations Foundation, WHO, UNICEF

Featuring the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Conference

Moderator: Senator Timothy E. Wirth, President of the UNF
June 23, 2005
8:00 a.m. CT

Operator: Thank you for standing by, everyone, and welcome to the United Nations Foundation Polio Eradication conference call. This call is being recorded.

At this time, I would like to turn the conference over to Senator Timothy E. Wirth for opening remarks and introductions.

Senator Timothy E. Wirth: Thank you all very much for joining us. We at the UN Foundation have been pleased to join with the OIC, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, Rotary and others, in working on the goal of eradicating polio.

The purpose of this morning’s conference call – my remarks will be very brief – is to help to raise awareness in the Arab world about polio eradication; second, to speak about the contribution of the OIC, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and their contribution so far, and the potential of their contributions to polio; third, to point out that we have reached a very critical point with the now arrival of polio once again in the Gulf region; and finally, we hope that one of the results of this will be increased resolve for all of us to not only call on governments in the region to help provide funding, but to see if we can get some real significant results from these governments in the Gulf.

With that, let me turn it over to Professor Ihsanodlu, who I know is in between meetings. Professor, thank you very much for joining us. We know about your busy schedule. We look forward to hearing from you.

Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu: Well, thank you, senator.

Well, we are, at OIC, very sensitive. And we are determined to cooperate with the international campaign on polio education.

Fifty out of 57 countries of OIC member countries, it was only – it was only five countries who had previously – 52 of them were previously stopped polio in their country. They were very successful.

But now, we see that in other countries – in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt, Nigeria, Niger – it’s come back. And in Sudan, Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire.

We are very sorry for these, and we think that there should be a greater campaign to stop this endemic disease, and we are cooperating with WHO.

We are politically committed to this campaign, and I have started a campaign to this. I have visited five African countries and met their leaders, the heads of states, and the polio issue was high on my agenda.

And now we are working on different levels in OIC resolution making, and (ISFM), the (ministerial) meeting, which is going to convene next week in (Sana’a), to raise awareness to support this campaign.

Until today, we had resolutions on this issue, and they’re going to have more resolutions in summit meetings in Putrajaya in 2004, in health ministers held in 2004 in Geneva – the OIC health ministers.

As for – apart from resolutions, there has been many OIC – or I can say – all of OIC countries spend domestic funds for the polio eradication efforts. And apart from these domestic funds, there were about $3 million has been raised in external resources from OIC countries for global polio eradication, primarily from Malaysia, Qatar and United Arab Emirates.

No doubt, there is additional funds required urgently from OIC countries to finance this campaign, and particularly to look after the epidemic – the polio eradication in OIC countries.

Senator Timothy E. Wirth: Well, thank you, professor. And I think that two things are extremely important in what you said. One, the effort to raise awareness in the OIC world, and second, as you say, the urgent need to raise funds from OIC countries to carry a larger share of this large, global burden.

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu: If you allow me, there is another point which I missed to say.

There was a kind of a wrong understanding in Nigeria, in the north of Nigeria, among the Muslims there, that this vaccination is not legal or lawful from Islamic point of view. And it was – that religion forbids this. That was, of course, totally wrong idea.

And we at OIC, Organization Islamic Conference, we helped to solve this problem and give them a legal advice, that this is nothing wrong with it. On the contrary, the religion encourages them to take these vaccines. And that really helped a lot in Nigeria.

So there is also an added aspect or dimension of OIC which has been successful in north of Nigeria.

Senator Timothy E. Wirth: Well, thank you very much. I think perhaps Dr. Wahdan might speak to this very issue, the problems in Nigeria, and how those spread across Africa and even into the Middle East.

Dr. Wahdan, thank you very much for joining us.

Dr. Wahdan: Thank you, senator, and thank you, professor.

I mean, it’s very opportune that the ministers of foreign affairs are now meeting – or will be soon meeting – in Yemen, where we are facing a major epidemic of polio. And in the number of cases that are happening in Yemen now, is half the world number of cases.

We have already this year 265 cases reported from Yemen, as part of the global 550 cases reported so far.

I mean, the epidemic in Nigeria, which resulted as a reason of wrong information among the northern Nigerians, as mentioned by the professor, has spread until it started in Sudan, where we had an epidemic costing more than 150 children paralyzed.

It crossed the Red Sea to reach Saudi Arabia, where it had a few importations, but it didn’t spread. And then it reached Yemen where it caused this severe epidemic. And also it has reached Indonesia.

This is actually a very good lesson to us, to say that these importations is a reminder, that as long as polio is present anywhere in the world, it can reach other countries and can cause devastating epidemics as the ones we are seeing at the moment.

I would like to acknowledge very much the support of the OIC, as mentioned by the professor, not only financial, but also in the effort to solve the problem of Nigeria.

The support which the program has received from the partnership has resulted in significant impact. If I go back to the time when we started the polio eradication in 1988, there were 350,000 cases every day – every year – which means 1,000 cases a day.

And last year we just had over 1,000 in the whole year, which means more than 99 percent reduction.

We – the number of countries which were infected in 1988 were more than 120 countries. And now it is much, much lower the number of countries.

Senator Timothy E. Wirth: Hey, Dr. Wahdan, I think – there’s good background on that. Maybe while we’ve still got Dr. Ihsanoglu, we might get Dr. Salah to say a word or two, and have a question before he has to leave the call, if that’s all right.

Dr. Wahdan: (Good).

Senator Timothy E. Wirth: Dr. Salah, Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, maybe you could speak to, was this a good lesson of polio spreading in Yemen? Or is this increase – need to move more rapidly?

Dr. Rima Salah: Yes, of course. Until recently, I was UNICEF’s regional director for West and Central Africa. And the heart of the current epidemic that has spread to Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.

But I personally have participated in several national ((inaudible)) to protect children. And it was really – what I saw is like watching an army mobilize – an army for children’s health.

But of course, rarely have we seen the world unite around children this way.

But all these efforts will be wasted unless we can fill the funding gap, as we mentioned before.

For example, we need $15 million by first of July. And we need another $200 million next year.

And that is why we appealed and we thank the secretary-general of the OIC. But we also appeal for more help from the countries, from Muslim countries, to other countries.

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu: If you allow me, senator, on this point, I would like to inform …

Senator Timothy E. Wirth: Speaking now, who is it?

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu: … to inform the audience that I had sent two weeks ago an appeal, a circular, to all member countries of OIC, pointing to this gap, what has been mentioned, and the need for raising funds.

And I have asked the member countries, the representative ((inaudible)) foreign ministers, when they come to Sana’a, to consider pledging money and raising funds for this project.

And I also, in my visit last March to Geneva, I invited the director general of WHO to participate in this meeting.

So, we are trying our best from our side to help this campaign, and we look forward to the cooperation with WHO. And we hope that member countries will respond favorably to our appeal.

Senator Timothy E. Wirth: Dr. Ihsanodlu, maybe you could speak to the fact of ministers of foreign affairs coming together in Yemen.

One other question is, where are the finance ministers? And is it possible to get the foreign ministers to go to their own governments to ask for an increasing contribution?

We’ve had a very small level of contribution from the OIC countries compared to the level of effort coming from most other able areas in the world.

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu: I will certainly do that. That is in my – I think this is also my duty to do that.

Senator Timothy E. Wirth: Great. Do we have questions from people on the call, please?

Operator: Thank you, sir. Our question-and-answer session will be conducted electronically. If anyone on the phone line should have a question or a comment at this time, we ask that you please press the star key, then the digit one on your touch-tone keypad.

Again, if you have a question or a comment at this time, please press star one, making sure that your mute function is disengaged to allow your signal to reach our equipment.

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu: I really need to leave in five minutes.

Operator: Certainly. Our first question today will come from Amina Kheiry from Al Hayat. Your line is open, please go ahead.

Amina Kheiry: Yes. Hello. First of all, thank you for allowing me to participate in this discussion.

And the question is, I just had some (models) regarding teaching about awareness campaigns at this point, because we felt that (cholera) was about to be eradicated a few months ago, and then talking again about awareness campaigns and the need for funds. It seems to be a bit worrying.

So, do I have a reason to be worried? Or I just want to ((inaudible)) on point of view.

Thank you.

Senator Timothy E. Wirth: Dr. Ihsanodlu, do you want to try that?

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu: Well, I think WHO is better to answer this.

Senator Timothy E. Wirth: Dr. Wahdan?

Dr. Wahdan: Yes. I mean, the eradication of poliomyelitis was very near. And we must remember that as long as the virus is present anywhere in the world, it can reach other places.

And if the children of the country where the virus is introduced are not immunized, then there is a possibility of spreading.

This is why we are saying that it is – that we must finish the job now, because if we wait, and if we do not finish the job now, there are possibilities that the virus reach other countries, where there are non-immune children, and cause problems.

Amina Kheiry: Thank you very much.

Dr. Rima Salah: Can I answer?

Senator Timothy E. Wirth: Please.

Dr. Rima Salah: Yes, as also doctor said, as long as polio exists, all unimmunized children are at risk.

And the problem is that routine immunization rates are very low, for example, in Africa and in parts of the Middle East.

So, we need more leadership to increase access to lifesaving services and to immunization.

As long as they ignore the situation in poorer countries, the disease will continue to haunt us all.

Senator Timothy E. Wirth: Well, I think it’s fair to say that we need not only more leadership, but we need more funding.

We just received a half-a-million-dollar contribution from the Government of Saudi Arabia, and the hope is that the government and others in the Gulf area, able to contribute, particularly in this dramatically increased oil revenue economy, and the fact that it is mostly Islamic impacted, will see fit to really step up on this.

Perhaps in Yemen when you all are there, we can have a greater impact in persuading those governments to step into this.

I don’t know, Professor Ihsanodlu, if you might speak to that, if you have talked extensively to those governments and to those finance ministers.

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu: Well, I have, unfortunately, I wish I have better access to the finance ministers. I would solve my own financial problems.

But I assure you that I will speak to the minister of foreign affairs, and I will have – it is on my agenda. I will make reference to this, and I had a reference to this in my report. And I will highlight this in my speech in the inaugural session.

And we look forward to the participation of WHO in that meeting, because, as I said, I have invited the director general to come. And I hope with these concerted efforts in Sana’a, we can get more support for you.

And I really would like to ask your permission to go and attend my other meeting.

Senator Timothy E. Wirth: Thank you very much for joining us, professor. We greatly appreciate it.

Do we have other questions on the call?

Operator: Yes, sir. Our next question will come from Enass Ahmeda from Al Amal Magazine. Your line is open. Please go ahead.

Enass Ahmeda: I am Enas from Libya.

I would like to ask, in countries such like Libya has been named polio-free. And the vaccine is available.

But I think we are surrounded by countries ((inaudible)), like Nigeria and Niger and Egypt.

What do you – do you think that the facts that we – activities that we should do in countries like this? Sorry?

Dr. Wahdan: This is Wahdan. Can I answer, senator?

Senator Timothy E. Wirth: Please do. Please do.

Dr. Wahdan: I mean, Libya, as many other countries as you have rightly mentioned, is surrounded by endemic countries. And we are – you are doing in Libya quite a good job now by raising the level of immunity in the children through very good routine immunization.

Also, Libya is doing some national immunization days in the border areas, and in areas where there are accumulation of foreigners in the southern part of the country.

Enas Ahmeda: Thank you.

Senator Timothy E. Wirth: Does that answer your question?

Enass Ahmeda: Thanks very much.

Senator Timothy E. Wirth: Great. Other questions?

Operator: Oh, my apologies. One moment.

And Ms. Ahmeda, your line is open. Please go ahead.

Enas Ahmeda: Thank you. Is there any activities that, for media, for example, to aware the people or the mothers about insisting them to go and have the vaccine to their children? Or, I don’t know how to say it, but …

Dr. Wahdan: I can say it in Arabic – I mean, she was asking what are the social mobilization efforts to be done for the mothers.

I think the parents have a major role in preventing their children from getting the disease. They should be taking their children for routine immunizations. And when there is a campaign, they should make sure that their children are vaccinated.

Enas Ahmeda: Thank you very much.

Dr. Rima Salah: And also, senator?

Senator Timothy E. Wirth: Yes.

Dr. Rima Salah: And also, the media has a vital role to play by supporting the immunization campaign. But also by calling on government to pledge more resources, as we said.
And (here) also, because they have the power to make governments accountable for following also through their promises.

Enas Ahmeda: Yes, that’s right.

Dr. Rima Salah: So, they have a very important role to play.

Enas Ahmeda: That’s right.

Senator Timothy E. Wirth: There is no question about the fact that media does have an important role to play.

I think, again, going back to governments and finance ministers, for all the public health authorities and the foreign ministries are making a very extensive effort, this is not going to be possible unless the funds are raised to do this job. And we are now at a critical time.

Unfortunately, the hope had been that polio had been eliminated in many of the now impacted countries. Because of the problem in northern Nigeria, which was largely a religious misunderstanding, these have spread once again across Africa into Yemen, Saudi Arabia and as far as Indonesia.

So, it is very important now to move rapidly to intervene once more, and do so very aggressively, very immediately. That’s going to cost funding. And again, the importance of the OIC countries to step up and fill this vacuum is exceedingly important.

Dr. Rima Salah: Yes. Senator, we also rely on the support of religious leaders and the media. And we thank religious leaders in the Arab world who have already been a great support to the eradication initiative.

And we use – it’s so important. Their voices are very important to promote immunization. Because parents are reassured that the immunization is safe.

Senator Timothy E. Wirth: That is absolutely the case.

Are there other questions that we have?

Operator: Yes. We do have a question from Donald McNeil from the “New York Times.” Your line is open, sir. Please go ahead.

Donald McNeil: Thank you. Actually, my question was for Professor Ihsanoglu. I gather he’s left the call?

Senator Timothy E. Wirth: Yes, he has.

Donald McNeil: I don’t know if anybody wants to address this.

The question was essentially, it’s been more than six weeks since the $3 million that’s come from the Islamic countries out of a need of $250 million, was characterized as peanuts.

It’s been two weeks since Professor Ihsanodlu has made an appeal to the Islamic countries to give more. Nothing has been heard since. And it seems a bit of an international shame.

And I wondered if he expected – how much money he expected to get from this effort, or whether he expected to hear anything before the conference?

Senator Timothy E. Wirth: OK. Is there anybody on the call that can respond to that? Dr. Wahdan or Dr. Salah, can you respond to that, do you think?

Dr. Wahdan: Well, I mean, I think, as (Professor) ((inaudible)), as I mentioned, I mean, we should not forget there are many other things than direct donations.

We have seen, for example, Yemen raise from their own resources $4 million to help in the campaign. We also have seen Pakistan to supplement the shortfall in the vaccine needs.

And we also saw bilateral support from some of the Islamic countries to their neighbors in the form of vaccines or other support. Yes, this is modest. But, I mean, we sincerely hope that this further funds will come to support these activities.

Donald McNeil: Are you disappointed at the level of response in the last six weeks? That there hasn’t been any sort of public outpouring, or anybody holding press conferences to say, look, we’ll put in another $10 million?

Oil prices have gone up quite a bit, so there’s quite a bit more cash around. So it’s kind of surprising, I think, to the rest of the world that countries haven’t stepped forward.

Dr. Rima Salah: But we really have great hope in the Sana’a meeting. And the secretary-general himself, the secretary-general of the United Nations here will also launch an appeal to the governments of Islamic countries.

Donald McNeil: Thank you.

Senator Timothy E. Wirth: Well, I think all of us are certainly going to be focusing on that meeting on the 27th. Writing again to all of these governments. And I hope that we can also mobilize some of the outside governments who have made very significant contributions to this, to urge action at the OIC.

And that we know that Rotary International, which has been the single largest contributor, with many, many very active groups in the OIC area, you know, that they will also be pushing hard to get this level of contribution up as sharply as it must happen.

I mean, “peanuts,” I think, is always a disparaging word. But the level of effort compared to the level of opportunity and possibility, and the level of effort compared to the current situation, which has spread because of these misunderstandings within the Islamic community in northern Nigeria, you know, it seems to me all comes together to suggest that we really have to put this full court press on between now and the end of June.

Are there other questions?

Operator: At this time, there are no other questions in the queue. However, I would like to remind everyone on the phone today, that if you do have a question or a comment at this time, to please press star one on your touch-tone keypad.

Senator Timothy E. Wirth: Dr. Wahdan, do you have any summary comments that you might like to make?

Dr. Wahdan: Well, senator, I would like to reemphasize again that the danger of importation is a very valid one. And that I would call on all the countries, whether they are members of OIC or other countries as well, that they should first make sure that their children are immune, and they should be prepared to address any importation that may happen.

We are very near to achieving the target of polio eradication. We are seeing polio disappearing from its stronghold in Asia – India and Pakistan. I mean, this year we had only 28 cases in these two countries, which is the lowest ever reported in the history.

We are also seeing the virus disappearing from (Egypt), as we spoke just before the conference. The last case was over a year ago.

And also, even in Africa, there also, there is a reduction in that.

I want to emphasize that the target is very viable, and we are very near to achieving it, I hope in the very near future.

Senator Timothy E. Wirth: Well, thank you, Dr. Wahdan. I know that you and all of your colleagues at WHO have been deeply engaged in this. And everybody in the international community is deeply indebted to the good work that you have done.

Dr. Salah?

Dr. Rima Salah: Yes. I’d liked to thank all the partners. And I hope all the partners will join us in the final stages of this great effort for children.

And I think, let’s all together declare victory against this disease, and save the children of the world, change the – also save the children in Islamic countries.

Senator Timothy E. Wirth: Well, that is extremely important. And this danger has spread now in Islamic countries. We want to see if we can interject these efforts as rapidly as possible, and stop that.

To all of you, thank you very much for joining us. Dr. Wahdan, thank you for joining us. Dr. Salah and in absentia, Dr. Ihsanodlu, and all of you participating, thank you very much for being with us.

We hope that everybody will join with so many other partners in really pushing the OIC very aggressively.

Now is the time, and it’s time for not only the rest of the world, but the OIC in particular, to really step up to this time of crisis and this time of opportunity.

So, thank you all very much for joining us, and we look forward to working with you in the weeks and months ahead. Thank you.

Operator: Thank you, everyone, for your participation. That does conclude today’s conference. And at this time, you may now disconnect.

Dr. Rima Salah: Thank you.

END