Polio, one of the world’s oldest scourges, is on the verge of being eradicated. It isn’t often that we see a disease completely wiped out but we are almost there. An exciting milestone in history, unless … .

If our government follows through with their announcement that they intend to slash our 2013 international development aid budget by $319 million, there is no doubt that this crippling disease will surge back, causing the paralysis and death of children once again.

With budget cuts, hard-fought gains on polio eradication and other diseases will be lost. The Bill and Melina Gates Foundation has highlighted polio in its recent funding priorities, so why not the Canadian government?

Reverse the cuts or recklessly risk endangering children’s lives.

Anita Mark

Saanichton

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