§ 42. Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will give an estimate of the number of persons suffering from the effects of poliomyelitis in the under-developed countries; if he will give the most up-to-date estimate of the number of children and adults who contract this disease every year in the under-developed countries; if he will indicate what steps his Ministry is taking to help eradicate this disease and to provide relief for present victims; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PrenticeI cannot give any estimate of my own, but according to the records of the World Health Organisation, 8,015 new cases of poliomyelitis were reported from developing countries in 1974.
My aid programme includes provision for projects directed at the improvement of the health and welfare of people in the developing countries and at the increase of the capacity of these countries to provide health services appropriate to their needs. I am now considering the best way in which I can help the WHO's expanded programme of immunisation, which includes immunisation against poliomyelitis.