Deadline: May 13, 2019
Applications are open for the United Nations Foundation Press Fellowship to Nigeria on Polio Eradication 2019. 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.
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.
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.
Eligibility
- Open to 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
Application
For more information, visit United Nations Foundation Press Fellowship to Nigeria on Polio Eradication.
