The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says that despite significant progress in the fight against polio, thousands of children around the world still lack access to the vaccine against the disease.
The organisation said on Saturday, October 24, that conflicts, weak healthcare systems and funding shortages have hampered efforts to eradicate polio.
UNICEF added that difficulties in accessing remote areas and misinformation about vaccines also prevent children from being vaccinated.
The organisation said that Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only countries where polio has not yet been eradicated.
According to UNICEF, the number of polio cases has declined by 99.9 percent since 1988. However, thousands of children around the world still lack access to the vaccine against the disease.
UNICEF added that it helps vaccinate more than 400 million children worldwide every year.
