Muslim Physicians'Unite in Call to Eradicate Polio

• Federation of Islamic Medical Associations (FIMA)launches call to action to end polio and improve child health on World Polio Day
• Muslim physicians join together today to declare their commitment to protecting all children from polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases
• Cases of polio are down more than 99% worldwide since 1988

Dubai, 26October 2014: The Federation of Islamic Medical Associations (FIMA), a global organization founded in 1981 to foster the unity and health of Muslim medical and healthcare professionals worldwide,called on all Muslim physicians to join together to end polio and improve child healththis week, on the occasion of World Polio Day.

The Muslim Physicians’ Call to Action on Polio Eradication and Children’s Health,to be signed by Muslim physicians from around the world, will outline a number of actions to be required by leaders and stakeholders in the Muslim world to eradicate polio.

Dr. AlyMisha’l, Consultant Endocrinologist and Chairman of the Ethics Committee at the Islamic Hospital in Amman, and former President of FIMA, said “We have come so close to eradicating polio worldwide and have made tremendous progress with cases are down more than 99% worldwide. The final one percent still exists in Muslim majority countries and, by rallying together, we have a chance to stop this disease in its tracks. We urge all Muslim physicians to unite to eliminate this easily preventable disease.

“As believers in the Islamic faith, it is our sacred duty to take care of our children and guarantee their health and safety. As physicians, it is also our responsibility to provide lifesaving care, educate families on the importance and safety of vaccines, and advocate for the rights of our communities to have access to quality healthcare.”

Leaders in the Muslim world have played a vital role in advancing eradication efforts and supporting childhood immunization. For example, the International Islamic Fiqh Academy in Jeddah and other senior Islamic leaders around the world have issued nearly 30 fatwas promoting the safety of polio vaccines, and the Islamic Advisory Group (IAG), under the leadership of the Grand Imam of the Holy Mosque of Mecca, issued a declaration to support vaccination. Additionally, a range of Muslim donors have contributed to the polio eradication effort including the UAE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Islamic Development Bank and several Muslim philanthropists. But more must be done to defeat this disease.

Pockets of polio still remain in Nigeria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Syria. As of October 2014, Pakistan accounts for more than 80% of cases globally and remains the largest exporter of the disease, with more than 200 cases detected in 2014 alone.

A number of leading physicians have joined the Call to Action, including Dr. Yagob Al-Mazrou, Secretary General-Health Services Council, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Dr. Tariq Cheema, Founder and CEO, World Congress of Muslim Philanthropists, US; Dr. SaniaNishtar, Founder and President, Heartfile, Pakistan; Dr. GamalSerour, Director, International Islamic Center for Population Studies and Research, Al Azhar University (IICPSR), Egypt.

Dr. Yagob Al-Mazrou, Secretary General-Health Services Council, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, added “Polio is still affecting parts of the Islamic world, but we can eradicate it. I encourage my fellow physicians across the Muslim world to join us in this urgent effort to end polio and protect children against all vaccine preventable diseases.”

Over the next few months, FIMA will continue to amass signatories with the goal of bringing thousands of physicians together in solidarity for children’s health.

Physicians can join the call to action here.