US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT864

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000864 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARPI AND OES/IHA 
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO CDC (JGERBERDING) AND NIH 
(EZERHOUNIAND) 
AMMAN FOR ESTH HUB (J.WHITTLESEY) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO, AMED, EAID, PREL, XF, MU, ESTH 
SUBJECT: POLIO: OMANI RE-INOCULATIONS, ARAB FUND-RAISING 
 
REF: SANAA 1304 
 
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Summary 
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1. (SBU) The local UNICEF representative offered details of 
Omani and GCC efforts to confront the potential polio threat 
emanating from the outbreak in neighboring Yemen.  The 
Ministry of Health is embarking on the revaccination of all 
children under age five, and is participating in GCC 
fund-raising efforts.  Children in the region nearest the 
Yemeni border have already been re-inoculated in advance of 
the busy summer tourist season.  The Omani government has 
pledged $100,000 for UNICEF's polio campaign, while Saudi 
Arabia has pledged $500,000 and possibly more.  With plans to 
raise over $10 million in the next two years to combat polio, 
UNICEF is looking for USG support to encourage Arab 
donations.  End summary. 
 
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Polio Concerns Spur Regional Action 
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2. (SBU) While a Ministry of Health official was unwilling to 
discuss the matter in detail, UNICEF's representative in 
Muscat confirmed to us recent reports in Omani Internet chat 
rooms that the Sultanate has embarked on a crash polio 
re-inoculation program for children under age 5.  UNICEF rep 
June Kunugi (protect) stated on May 29 that the Ministry of 
Health took the decision following a recent meeting of GCC 
Health Ministers in Riyadh at which it was decided that all 
six GCC members would take measures both to protect their own 
citizens as well as to aid international polio eradication 
efforts. 
 
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Oman Raising Its Already Strong Defenses Against Polio 
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3. (SBU) The Sultanate, which enjoys one of the highest 
international rankings for childhood immunization (according 
to the WHO), has not seen a case of poliomyelitis in over 13 
years.  While Kunugi estimates current rates of polio 
immunization in Oman hover around 99 percent, the government 
has nevertheless decided to re-inoculate all children under 5 
using the oral polio vaccine.  This effort is to be phased-in 
regionally throughout the country, she added, with the 
southern Dhofar region having completed its re-inoculations 
during the fourth week of May.  That region was seen as 
having the most urgent need, both given its border with Yemen 
(scene of the largest current outbreak), and because of the 
impending arrival of tens of thousands of Arab tourists to 
enjoy the cool rains and verdant hills of the summer monsoon 
season. 
 
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Ramping Up Fund-Raising Efforts 
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4. (SBU) Kunugi credited USG intervention for a recent Saudi 
decision to donate $500,000 to UNICEF, with potentially more 
funds to follow.  She believed the SAG also agreed to cover 
much of Yemen's costs to battle the polio outbreak.  For its 
part, UNICEF is seeking to raise $3.25 million in 2005 to 
prevent the spread of polio, and hopes to raise an additional 
$7 million for 2006.  She noted that Oman has pledged 
$100,000 to UNICEF's campaign.  UNICEF is encouraged that the 
OIC Secretary General has promised to place the polio issue 
on the agenda of the OIC's Foreign Ministerial at the end of 
June.  Kunugi hoped the USG would be proactive in urging 
donor support among Arab states. 
STEWART