During a panel discussion at an aid and development conference held earlier this week in Dubai, officials discussed the latest collaboration between the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). One of the panelists, Hassan Al Damluji, head of Middle East relations for the foundation, said that despite the increase in population in the area in the last year or so, the number of polio cases worldwide has fallen from 350 in 2014 to 74 as of last count. He credits much of this to the work of the foundation in educating the public on the importance of receiving the polio vaccination. In addition, the foundation has been working with the public on sanitation initiatives, such as toilet hygiene and the importance of having access to a clean water supply. The foundation has earmarked $400 million for projects spanning 31 countries, focusing on nations where citizens lack access to sanitary facilities, and is pushing for 2016 to be the year when polio is eradicated for good.

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