Saudi Arabia Pledges $500 Million to Global Polio Eradication Initiative

Saudi Arabia has reaffirmed its $500 million commitment to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), aimed at eradicating wild polio and controlling vaccine-derived polio outbreaks in Pakistan and Afghanistan, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Monday

In a significant move to combat polio, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has reaffirmed its commitment to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) with a whopping $500 million pledge. This generous contribution aims to eradicate polio in Pakistan and Afghanistan, the last two remaining polio-endemic countries ¹.The GPEI, a public-private partnership, has been working tirelessly since 1988 to eradicate polio worldwide.

Thanks to its efforts, wild polio cases have plummeted by 99.9% ². However, despite this progress, polio still poses a significant threat, particularly in conflict-affected areas.

The Impact of Saudi Arabia’s Pledge

Saudi Arabia’s $500 million pledge will be instrumental in:-

_Vaccinating 370 million children_ against polio every year-

_Strengthening health systems_ in Pakistan and Afghanistan-

_Reaching children in conflict-affected areas_ with life-saving vaccines and interventions

A Collective Effort

The GPEI is a collaborative effort between national governments, WHO, Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, the Gates Foundation, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Saudi Arabia’s pledge is a testament to the power of collective action in achieving a polio-free world.

The Road Ahead

While significant progress has been made, the fight against polio is far from over. Continued support and commitment from governments, donors, and partners are crucial to eradicating polio once and for all. As Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, aptly put it, “When we invest in eradicating polio, we make immunization and health systems more resilient” ².