KARACHI: Rotary International has reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to eradicating polio in Pakistan, emphasizing the need for sustained political support, international collaboration, community engagement and continued investment to eliminate the disease from one of the last two countries where wild poliovirus remains endemic.
In a statement issued ahead of World Polio Day, observed annually on October 24, Rotary International acknowledged Pakistan's progress in combating polio while stressing that continued efforts were essential to interrupt transmission of the virus and protect every child from the potentially paralyzing disease.
World Polio Day was established by Rotary International in honour of Dr. Jonas Salk, who developed the first safe and effective polio vaccine more than seven decades ago. The occasion provides an opportunity to recognize achievements in global polio eradication and renew commitments to ending the disease worldwide.
Rotary International, which pioneered the vision of a polio-free world, was among the founding partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in 1988. At that time, approximately 350,000 children were affected by polio annually across 125 countries. Since then, global polio cases have declined by more than 99.9 percent, preventing paralysis in more than 20 million people.
Rotary International President Olayinka Hakeem Babalola said the organization had contributed more than US$3 billion towards global polio eradication efforts, including US$1.3 million from Rotary members in Pakistan.
He said Rotary had invested more than half a billion dollars and countless volunteer hours in efforts to protect over 45 million children in Pakistan from the disease.
Babalola, who played a role in polio eradication efforts in Nigeria before Africa was certified free of wild poliovirus in 2020, said the African region's achievement demonstrated that polio could be eliminated through coordinated action, strong political commitment and sustained financial support.
He emphasized that the same level of collaboration and determination could help Pakistan interrupt poliovirus transmission and contribute to the ultimate goal of global eradication.
Rotary International also highlighted the role of its members in advocating for government support, mobilizing communities and promoting childhood immunization, particularly in areas where vaccine refusals continue to present challenges for vaccination teams.
Aziz Memon, Chairman of Rotary's Pakistan National PolioPlus Committee, said Pakistan had demonstrated encouraging progress, with only a handful of polio cases reported during the current year.
However, he stressed that maintaining public confidence and strengthening relationships with communities remained essential to achieving sustainable results.
Memon said Rotary was addressing broader community needs alongside vaccination activities to build trust and improve acceptance of polio immunization.
He explained that the Pakistan National PolioPlus Committee had supported the establishment of water filtration plants in different parts of the country, community resource centres to strengthen engagement with local populations, team support centres to facilitate frontline health workers and permanent transit vaccination posts to reach children travelling between different locations.
According to Rotary, these initiatives are designed to address community concerns, support vaccination teams and ensure that children who might otherwise be missed receive protection against poliovirus.
The organization emphasized that vaccine refusals and difficulties in reaching every child remained important challenges in Pakistan's eradication efforts, requiring continued cooperation among government authorities, international partners, health workers and community leaders.
Rotary International reiterated that Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only two countries where wild poliovirus transmission is endemic, making successful eradication efforts in both countries critical to achieving a polio-free world.
The organization called upon governments, international donors and development partners to maintain polio eradication as a major public health priority and ensure sustained financial, technical and operational support.
Rotary maintained that the tools, expertise and partnerships required to eradicate polio already exist, but continued political will, community participation and adequate resources are essential to finish the job.
As World Polio Day 2026 approaches, Rotary International has renewed its commitment to working alongside Pakistan and its global partners until every child is protected and polio is eradicated worldwide.
