Saudi Arabia Pledges $500M for Global Polio Eradication

Saudi Arabia Reaffirms $500 Million Pledge to Eradicate Polio Globally

Riyadh –Saudi Arabia has reaffirmed its commitment to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) by reaffirming its $500 million pledge at the Fourth Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum. This significant contribution aims to accelerate efforts to eradicate polio worldwide and protect children from the debilitating disease.

The forum stressed the urgent need for widespread polio vaccination, ensuring that every child receives the vaccine to prevent transmission and improve global health security. Key figures present at the event included Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah, Supervisor General of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief), alongside Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO); Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF; Dr. Sanya Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; Dr. Chris Elias, President of Global Development at the Gates Foundation; and Aziz Memon, head of the Pakistan Polio Program at Rotary International.

A Critical Agreement to Vaccinate 370 Million Children Annually
During the event, an agreement was signed to strengthen the Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s mission. The funds, which was first promised during the World Economic Forum (WEF) special conference in Riyadh in April 2024, will help 370 million children annually receive vaccinations, guaranteeing the permanent eradication of polio.

“The world is on track to eradicate polio permanently, and Saudi Arabia is honored to be part of this global initiative,” said Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s commitment to safeguarding vulnerable children. Future generations will be protected from this avoidable illness because to our support.

Decades of Progress, But Challenges Remain
Since its inception in 1988, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative has led to a 99% reduction in polio cases worldwide, enabling over 20 million people—who would have otherwise been paralyzed—to walk today. However, the virus continues to spread in areas experiencing humanitarian crises, such as Yemen, Somalia, Afghanistan and Pakistan. After 25 years, the polio outbreak in Gaza in 2024 was a reminder of the dangers that still exist.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus underlined: “Although we have achieved great strides, the last stage of eradication is the most difficult. We will get closer to a world free of polio thanks to Saudi Arabia’s kind donation, which will enable us to reach kids in difficult-to-reach and conflict-affected areas.”

Catherine Russell, executive director of UNICEF, shared this view and emphasized the importance of ongoing immunization campaigns, saying: “As demonstrated in Gaza last year, any vaccination slip can reverse years of progress. Saudi Arabia’s assistance is essential to guaranteeing that all children receive immunizations that can save their lives.

Leaders Around the World Demand Ongoing Assistance
Even in areas affected by a crisis, governments, medical professionals, and international organizations are stepping up their efforts to provide polio vaccines. The Extended Strategy (2022-2029) of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative is centered on bolstering weak healthcare systems and providing vaccines in addition to critical health services.

The Gates Foundation chairman, Bill Gates, emphasized the advancements, saying, “Polo paralyzed 350,000 children every year decades ago. This figure fell to just 12 in 2023. Although we are now closer than ever to eradicating this illness, we still need sustained financing and international leadership to get there.

Rotary International’s President of the International Polio Program, Mike McGovern, praised Saudi Arabia’s pledge and described it as a “pivotal step” toward total eradication.

The CEO of Gavi, Dr. Sania Nishtar, highlighted the wider advantages of vaccination, saying, “By strengthening global vaccination efforts, we can protect children from multiple preventable diseases and build a more resilient world.”

A Joint Initiative for a Future Free of Polio
Although there has been significant progress in the global campaign against polio, sustained assistance is still needed to eradicate the disease completely. Saudi Arabia’s $500 million commitment demonstrates its commitment to humanitarian and public health initiatives and strengthens the international community’s determination to eradicate polio permanently.