Riyadh, February 25, 2025 – In a significant move to combat polio, Saudi Arabia has reaffirmed its commitment of $500 million to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). This funding aims to support global vaccination efforts, with a target of reaching 370 million children annually over the next five years. The focus will be on high-risk regions where polio remains a persistent threat, particularly in Pakistan and Afghanistan, the last two countries where wild poliovirus continues to circulate.
This announcement marks a renewed push to end polio globally, following decades of progress that have seen cases decrease by over 99% since the launch of the GPEI in 1988. Despite these achievements, health experts warn that without continued financial support and coordinated efforts, outbreaks could re-emerge in vulnerable areas.
A Renewed Commitment to Eradication
Saudi Arabia initially pledged this funding in April 2024 during the World Economic Forum Special Meeting in Riyadh. The reaffirmation of this commitment underscores the Kingdom’s dedication to global health and disease prevention.
The GPEI is a global partnership that includes:
- The World Health Organization (WHO)
- The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
- The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Rotary International
- Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
These organizations work collectively to eliminate polio through mass immunization campaigns, surveillance, and outbreak response strategies.
Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah, Advisor to the Royal Court and Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid & Relief Centre (KSrelief), emphasized the significance of this initiative:
“In Afghanistan and Pakistan, the last remaining polio-endemic countries, we have seen significant progress, yet work remains to be done as the world pushes towards making eradication possible.”
Targeting Endemic Regions
Polio, a highly contagious and crippling viral disease, has been largely eradicated in most of the world. However, Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only two countries where wild poliovirus is still endemic.
In 2024, these nations reported 99 cases of wild poliovirus. Many of these cases were in remote or conflict-affected areas where vaccination teams face security challenges, misinformation, and logistical barriers.
The GPEI’s goal is to:
- Eliminate wild poliovirus by 2027
- Stop vaccine-derived polio outbreaks by 2029
To achieve this, Saudi Arabia’s funding will support vaccination campaigns, strengthen healthcare systems, and ensure vaccines reach children in even the most difficult-to-access areas.
The Challenge of Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus
While wild poliovirus is nearly eradicated, another challenge is the rise of vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV). This occurs when the weakened virus in oral polio vaccines mutates and spreads in under-immunized communities. The GPEI’s strategy includes deploying a new, more stable polio vaccine (nOPV2) to prevent such mutations while ensuring communities receive sufficient immunization coverage.
Global Health Implications
The fight against polio has seen incredible progress, with cases reduced from 350,000 annually in 1988 to fewer than 200 in recent years. However, recent outbreaks in places like Gaza—where polio reappeared after 25 years—demonstrate the ongoing risks.
Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF, warned:
“As we saw in Gaza last year, the hard-won gains of the global eradication effort are fragile if vaccination rates are allowed to drop.”
The Risk of Complacency
Global health experts caution that complacency could undo decades of progress. If polio is not eradicated, it could resurge and spread globally, potentially infecting 200,000 children every year within a decade. Countries with weak healthcare systems, particularly those affected by conflict, natural disasters, or displacement, remain at the highest risk.
Collaborative Efforts with the Gates Foundation
Saudi Arabia’s pledge is part of a broader collaboration with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, bringing their total joint contributions to over $620 million.
Beyond polio eradication, this partnership aims to:
- Strengthen healthcare systems in vulnerable regions
- Improve maternal and child health
- Tackle poverty and malnutrition across 33 countries
Bill Gates, co-chair of the foundation, praised Saudi Arabia’s contribution, stating:
“Polio is a horrific disease that deserves to be in the history books once and for all. By working together, we can ensure that no child suffers from this preventable disease again.”
Strengthening Health Systems for the Future
The funding will not only support polio eradication but also contribute to building stronger health systems in low-income countries. This includes:
- Training healthcare workers to improve routine immunization services
- Enhancing disease surveillance systems to quickly detect and contain outbreaks
- Delivering essential health interventions, such as vitamin A supplements, maternal care, and mosquito nets to fight malaria
A Call to Action: A Polio-Free World Within Reach
The world is at a crucial turning point in the fight against polio. While significant progress has been made, continued political will, funding, and global cooperation are essential to achieving full eradication.
Saudi Arabia’s $500 million pledge serves as a major boost to global eradication efforts and a reminder that the fight is not over. The GPEI urges other countries, philanthropists, and international organizations to step up their support to close the final gap.
With strong global commitment, polio can become the second human disease ever eradicated, following smallpox in 1980.
What’s Next?
- Continued vaccination campaigns in high-risk areas
- Strengthening surveillance systems to detect any new cases
- Expanding healthcare access in remote regions
If the world remains committed, polio could be eradicated within the next decade, ensuring that future generations will never suffer from this debilitating disease.
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