End Polio Now March 2025 Bulletin

End Polio Now Update: March 2025

Here are the latest stats received on Polio. These data arrived a couple of days ago. My previous comments about fluctuations from one year to another remain pertinent. The table is deliberately truncated below the TOTAL line.

Club Visits

I am happy to come to your club and provide an update and insight into the ending of Polio. If you wish me to do this, please contact me (as below) suggesting suitable dates.

Thank you for the support you continue to give.

Snapshot of Information from Global Polio Eradication Initiative (for information)

Funding

In a significant boost to global polio eradication efforts, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reaffirmed a US$ 500 million commitment to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), during the fourth Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum. The funds are critical to help end wild polio in Pakistan and Afghanistan and to stop outbreaks of variant polio. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s commitment will help reach 370 million children annually with lifesaving polio vaccines. This pledge underscores Saudi Arabia's dedication to protecting the world's most vulnerable children and contributing to a polio-free future.

Gaza

A five-day mass polio vaccination campaign in the Gaza Strip successfully reached nearly 603 000 children under 10, marking a crucial step in containing an ongoing poliovirus outbreak. With improved access during the ceasefire, health workers vaccinated 40,000 more children than in previous rounds, ensuring broader protection for children previously unreachable. Led by the Palestinian Ministry of Health with support from WHO, UNICEF, and other partners, the campaign demonstrates the power of coordinated efforts in safeguarding children’s health amidst crises.

Pakistan

At the beginning of February, GPEI and country partners successfully completed a nationwide immunization campaign in Pakistan, one of the last two countries where wild poliovirus remains endemic. The campaign aims to vaccinate over 45.4 million children under the age of 5 across 159 of the country’s 166 districts. More than 400 000 frontline workers went house to house to ensure every child was reached. This effort was critical to ensure every child is protected from polio’s devastating consequences.

Mozambique

A network of publicly funded community radio stations has been instrumental in promoting polio vaccination. Familiar voices speaking local languages have been spreading the message about the importance of immunization, reaching even the most remote communities. This initiative has played a vital role ensuring that children in densely populated and underserved areas, like Matola, receive their polio vaccines.

Polio Pulse (yes pulse, not plus…)

GPEI has a news and social media insights page which can be reached at poliokit.org/

It may be a bit too much info but for those who have keen interest, have a look. Scanning the QR code should take you there.

I attended a World Health Organisation and Rotary zoom meeting on the present position on polio in Afghanistan and Pakistan last week. There is reference above to Pakistan but I was interested to learn that whilst women – who primarily delivered the ‘message’ and administered the immunisations - are essentially banned from leaving home in Afghanistan, Children who are able to move freely have been trained to deliver the message that immunisation remains crucial but are also, with parental permission, physically taking younger children to the vaccination clinics for inoculation

I propose issuing the next bulletin in May.

Regards

Malcolm Tagg