Saudi Arabia has reaffirmed its $500 million pledge to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Monday. This substantial commitment, initially made in April 2024 during the World Economic Forum Special Meeting in Riyadh, aims to bolster efforts to eradicate wild polio and curb outbreaks of variant polio in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The allocated funds will support the vaccination of approximately 370 million children annually, targeting the wild strain of the poliovirus that remains endemic in both countries. In 2024, Pakistan and Afghanistan collectively reported 99 cases of wild polio, underscoring the persistent challenge the virus poses in these regions. The GPEI has adjusted its eradication timeline, now aiming to eliminate wild polio by 2027 and address vaccine-derived polio by 2029, extending the previous 2026 deadline for both forms.
This renewed financial support from Saudi Arabia is pivotal, especially in light of recent global health funding shifts. The United States, historically a major contributor to the GPEI, accounting for 17% of its 2024-2025 budget, has announced its intention to withdraw from the WHO. This decision has raised concerns about potential funding gaps in critical health programs, including polio eradication efforts. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the gravity of this move, stating that the suspension of U.S. foreign aid contributions significantly impacts global health initiatives targeting diseases like HIV, polio, mpox, and avian flu.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s commitment not only addresses immediate financial needs but also reinforces global solidarity in the fight against polio. H.E. Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah, Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid & Relief Centre (KSrelief), highlighted the importance of this initiative, noting that the Kingdom’s contribution will protect vulnerable children today, ensuring future generations can live free from this preventable disease.
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The GPEI, a public-private partnership that includes national governments, WHO, Rotary International, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has been instrumental in reducing polio cases by over 99% since its inception in 1988. However, challenges persist due to humanitarian crises, political instability, and vaccine misinformation, particularly in regions where polio remains endemic. The Saudi pledge is a significant step toward overcoming these obstacles and achieving a polio-free world.
In summary, the reaffirmation Saudi Arabia of its $500 million pledge to the GPEI exemplifies a robust commitment to global health and the eradication of polio. This support is especially crucial given recent funding uncertainties and underscores the importance of collaborative international efforts to combat preventable diseases.
This news is sourced from [Reuters] and is for informational purposes only.
