...Rotary International, WHO, and Member States call for urgent action, sustained funding, and smart integration to finish the fight against polio.
By Bunmi Yekini
Geneva – As the 2025 World Health Assembly (WHA) convened this week in Geneva, global leaders reaffirmed their commitment to eradicating polio, even as the world grapples with geopolitical tensions, economic instability, and humanitarian emergencies. Delegates emphasized the need for sustained momentum, smart integration of health systems, and resilient funding to ensure that no child is left vulnerable to this preventable disease.
Polio Eradication High on WHA Agenda
During the session, WHO Member States voiced unequivocal support for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), recognizing recent progress but warning against complacency.
“There is still unfinished business,” said a delegate from the Eastern Mediterranean Region. “The threat of wild poliovirus remains real in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and variant strains continue to challenge progress in Africa and beyond.”
Rotary International, a founding partner of GPEI, called for robust political and financial backing to sustain efforts. Judith Diment MBE, Chair of Rotary’s Polio Eradication Advocacy Committee, warned of the cost of faltering now.
“We must remain resourceful, resilient, and resolved,” Diment said. “The final stretch demands collective strength – to stop now would risk everything we’ve worked so hard for.”
Progress in Africa, But Lake Chad Basin Still at Risk
Encouragingly, the African continent has seen a sharp decline in circulating variant polioviruses, with global cases dropping from 529 in 2023 to 312 in 2024. This year, just 52 cases have been recorded.
A highlight at the WHA was the announcement of Madagascar’s successful closure of its variant poliovirus type 1 outbreak – a milestone praised as a triumph of collaboration among African governments, communities, and health workers.
Ten African countries vaccinated nearly 54 million children in the first quarter of 2025 alone.
However, the Lake Chad Basin continues to pose a formidable challenge. Insecurity, inaccessible terrain, and climate-related disruptions, coupled with porous borders, have created fertile ground for variant poliovirus type 2.
“We must act with urgency and coordination,” said a health official from Nigeria. “Cross-border collaboration is essential to reaching every child.”
Endemic Threats Persist in Afghanistan and Pakistan
In the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the only countries with endemic wild poliovirus. Worryingly, both nations have reported spikes in cases – 74 in Pakistan and 25 in Afghanistan so far in 2024, up from six each the previous year.
“We are seeing operational improvements, but the situation remains fragile,” said a WHO representative. “This year is critical – we must end transmission once and for all.”
The Assembly also discussed the polio situation in Gaza, where a humanitarian pause allowed vaccinations of over 560,000 children. WHO urged unimpeded humanitarian access and reiterated its call for an immediate ceasefire to safeguard children’s health.
Regional Solidarity in the Horn of Africa
Ministers from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen gathered to reaffirm their pledge to eliminate variant polio outbreaks in the Horn of Africa.
“This region has suffered for too long,” said one delegate. “But with united resolve, we can break the cycle.”
Transition Planning and Post-Certification Strategy
With funding for global health declining, Member States emphasized the need to integrate polio eradication functions into broader health systems. Discussions focused on retaining infrastructure, expertise, and innovations developed through GPEI for future public health challenges.
“Polio assets must not be lost,” said a health economist attending the WHA. “They are the building blocks of stronger, equitable health systems.”
Innovation, Integration, and Recognition
A WHA side event on disease outbreaks underlined the importance of investing in surveillance and routine immunization, while spotlighting innovations such as wastewater monitoring and electronic immunization registries in low-resource settings.
Another key moment was the awarding of WHO’s Dr. Lee Jong-wook Memorial Public Health Prize to South Africa’s Professor Helen Rees for her lifelong contributions to immunization and infectious disease control.
Sustaining Momentum and Funding
As the Assembly drew to a close, stakeholders stressed the urgency of resilient financing mechanisms to support eradication efforts – from debt swaps and catalytic investments to integrating polio work into broader health financing systems.
“Polio eradication is not just a health goal – it’s a global public good,” said a GPEI spokesperson. “But we must fund the finish line.”
The consensus at WHA 2025 was clear: with unwavering political will, strategic investment, and bold leadership, a polio-free world is within reach.
“Now is not the time to hesitate,” Diment reminded delegates. “Now is the time to finish the job.”