Saudi Arabia confirms $500 million payout to global polio eradication effort
With immediate disbursement
Saudi Arabia has reaffirmed its $500 million commitment to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), a critical step in the global effort to eradicate the disease and protect children worldwide.
The announcement was made during the fourth Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum, where key global health leaders gathered to sign the agreement to help reach 370 million children with polio vaccines annually.
The signing event saw Dr Abdullah al Rabeeah, Supervisor General of King Salman Relief and Humanitarian Centre, joined by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO); Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF; Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; Dr Chris Elias, President of Global Development at the Gates Foundation and Chair of the Polio Oversight Board; and Aziz Memon, Pakistan Polio Plus Chair, Rotary International. Together, they sealed the agreement to enable the GPEI and its partners to continue their polio eradication mission.
The $500 million contribution was initially pledged in April 2024 at the World Economic Forum Special Meeting in Riyadh. The funds will be immediately disbursed to support efforts in Pakistan and Afghanistan, where the risk of wild polio transmission remains high, and to address the growing threat of variant polio outbreaks. The funds will also aid in strengthening vaccination campaigns in difficult-to-reach areas, often affected by conflict and humanitarian crises.
“The world is on the path to eradicating polio once and for all, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is proud to be part of this global initiative,” said H.E. Dr. Abdullah al Rabeeah. “Our contribution will support the important work of protecting the most vulnerable children, ensuring that future generations can live free from this preventable disease.”
Since its establishment in 1988, the GPEI has made remarkable strides, reducing polio cases by more than 99%. The virus would have otherwise paralysed more than 20 million people walking today.
However, regions such as parts of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, and Yemen continue to face challenges due to ongoing humanitarian crises that allow the virus to persist. In 2024, polio made a return to Gaza, paralysing a child for the first time in 25 years, underscoring that as long as polio remains anywhere in the world, all children are at risk.
“We have come so far in our shared mission to consign polio to history, but the last mile is the hardest,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Finishing the job requires unwavering determination, and this generous contribution from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will help us reach children in conflict-affected and other hard-to-reach areas, as we work together to achieve a polio-free world.”
Saudi Arabia’s support is critical to maintaining momentum in the fight against polio. In addition to vaccine distribution, the GPEI has adapted its strategies to deliver immunisations and essential health services in conflict zones and other fragile environments. Every contribution towards the GPEI’s 2022-2029 strategy brings the world closer to ending polio for good.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell highlighted the importance of continued partnership: “As we saw in Gaza last year, the hard-won gains of the global eradication effort are fragile if vaccination rates drop. With the support of committed partners like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we can reach every child with life-saving vaccinations and end polio once and for all.”
Bill Gates, Chair of the Gates Foundation, also applauded the contribution: “Just a few decades ago, polio paralysed 350,000 children yearly. In 2023, that number dropped to just 12 – a testament to the unwavering commitment of countries and partners worldwide. Thanks to this generous contribution from Saudi Arabia, we are one step closer to a polio-free world.”
A panel discussion followed the signing event. Dr Abdullah al Rabeeah joined global health leaders to emphasise the need to ensure that no child is left behind in the global effort to eradicate polio.
Mike McGovern, International PolioPlus Chair, Rotary International: “Saudi Arabia’s $500 million contribution is a pivotal step in our mission to eradicate polio. This funding will enable Rotarians and health workers to intensify their efforts in reaching every child, ensuring that no one is left vulnerable to this preventable disease.”
Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO, Gavi: “Strengthening global immunisation efforts is crucial to protecting children from preventable diseases. By enhancing immunisation, we can safeguard children everywhere against various illnesses, including polio, and move closer to a healthier, more resilient world.”
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is a public-private partnership led by national governments, WHO, Rotary International, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UNICEF, the Gates Foundation, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Since its inception in 1988, the GPEI has helped prevent more than 20 million cases of paralysis, saved over 1.5 million lives, and reduced the incidence of wild poliovirus by 99.9%.
Image: The funds will aid in strengthening vaccination campaigns in difficult-to-reach areas, often affected by conflict and humanitarian crises. Credit: Artem Podrez
Last Updated on 1 day by Dan Ngiam
