The Islamic Advisory Group for Polio Eradication Holds its Fifth Meeting in Jeddah

Date: 12/11/2018

The Islamic Advisory Group for Polio Eradication (IAG) will hold its fifth annual meeting at the General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah on 14 November 2018. The meeting will discuss the support provided by the group to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and the latest updates regarding polio eradication in the Islamic World.

The meeting will also review IAG’s work plans and launch the translations of IAG’s training manual for religious scholars and students of religious studies on polio eradication and other maternal and child health priorities.

The meeting will be attended by the leaders of the group’s partners and supporting organizations including: Dr Yousef A. Al-Othaimeen, the OIC Secretary General, Dr Saleh Bin Abdullah Bin Humaid, Member of the Saudi Council of Senior Scholars, President of the Council of International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA) and Imam of Al Masjid Al Haram, Dr Saleh Abbas Goma Saleh, Deputy of Al Azhar Al Sharif as delegate of H.E. the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Dr Shawky Allam, Grand Mufti of Egypt, Dr Mohamed Jouini, Vice President for Partnership Development of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, the World Health Organization’s Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean (WHO/EMRO).

The IAG meetings are held annually to follow up on the activities conducted in countries where polio is still endemic or at risk of re-emerging and support their efforts in addressing religious misconceptions and counter false information regarding polio and other maternal and child health initiatives. This fifth meeting will discuss the possibility of expanding the mandate of IAG to address other critical health issues including health system strengthening; disease prevention and control; maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition; medicines, vaccines and medical technologies; emergency health response and interventions; and information, research, education and advocacy.

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