Application Deadline: May 13, 2019,
The United Nations Foundation has announced a press fellowship to Nigeria focused on polio eradication during the week of July 22, 2019. Nigeria is one of only three remaining countries where polio has not been eliminated
Polio is a highly contagious disease that mostly affects children under the age of five. Due to comprehensive eradication efforts, including an effective vaccine, robust government investment, and dedicated health workers, polio has decreased dramatically worldwide. In 1998, polio impacted 350,000 people in 125 countries, and in 2018, just 33 cases of wild polio were reported in three countries, marking a 99.9% reduction in cases globally.
Despite this monumental progress, big challenges remain. Conflict and weak health systems threaten progress in the three countries where polio remains endemic – Nigeria, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Eradication will require increased investment and significant funding.
“Polio could become the second disease ever eradicated in history” said Kate Dodson, Vice President of Global Health at the UN Foundation. “This is a critical part of the world’s global health story that will define how we respond to health threats for years to come.”
Through this fellowship, journalists will also explore how polio eradication can build the resilience of health systems through improved vaccine cold chains and trained health workers, leading to better infrastructure that can be used to fight other diseases like measles and Ebola.
This press fellowship is intended for journalists who are interested in global health issues, including vaccines and disease prevention; foreign policy; and the work of the United Nations. Journalists from all countries are welcome to apply.
Five selected journalists will have a firsthand look into the front lines of eradicating one of the world’s most contagious diseases. Journalists will go on house visits with community health workers, witness routine immunization programs, and learn about emergency response. They will also hear directly from experts from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, including UNICEF and the World Health Organization, and local health officials.
The application deadline is May 13, 2019, and the fellowship will take place the week of July 22, 2019.
Apply Now for the United Nations Foundation 2019 press fellowship
For more information, please contact Rachel Smidt (rsmidt@unfoundation.org) and Serena Jiwani (sjiwani@unfoundation.org).
For More Information: Visit the Official Webpage of the United Nations Foundation 2019 press fellowship
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