This World Polio Day, we can celebrate being closer than ever to a polio free world. Large challenges remain in this massive, global undertaking, but your commitment in joining the global movement is absolutely crucial to ending polio everywhere. Your voice matters in all of this. Your commitment tells governments worldwide that polio eradication must continue to be funded and politically supported if it is to succeed.

This year, global citizens across Canada and around the world sent a clear message to governments that eradicating polio is a crucial battle in global health. Governments answered. Over 4 billion dollars in new funding were pledged at the Global Vaccine Summit in April. Canada was at the forefront of this, with a historic $250 million contribution that helped pave the way for countries like the UK and Australia to join in announcing funding towards ending polio. These funds mean  that more vaccines can be delivered to more children, reaching more communities and conducting the crucial outreach that leads to fewer children left behind.  They mean that polio outbreaks, like the one seen in the Horn of Africa this Summer, will be detected earlier and dealt with more aggressively.  These funds bring us one step closer to ending polio everywhere and forever.

By committing a historic $250 million over the next six years towards the last mile of polio eradication, Canada demonstrated that it's a true leader in this global effort. As Canadians, that's something we can all be proud of. That's something we can all celebrate. Though many challenges remain and the need for continued effort is crucial to ending polio worldwide, the strong support of governments like Canada's is absolutely essential. Add your voice in support of Canada's commitment to a polio free world. Sign The End of Polio Petition and invite your friends and family to join you by sharing this post.