Rotary International has provided a US$ 9.9 million grant to the World Health Organization in Pakistan to support polio vaccination for 27 million children in high-risk districts. The funding will reinforce the Government of Pakistan-led Polio Eradication Initiative, which runs multiple door-to-door campaigns and subnational drives each year and reaches over 45 million children nationwide.
The grant is part of a larger US$ 14.9 million contribution to polio eradication efforts in Pakistan. WHO will allocate these funds to campaign operations in high-risk districts of Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, covering human resources and incentives, training, transportation, supplies for frontline workers, vaccine carriers and essential operational costs.
Rotary is a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and has contributed about US$ 3 billion to global eradication efforts and nearly US$ 500 million to Pakistan, along with sustained advocacy and volunteer support. Since Pakistan launched its Polio Eradication Initiative three decades ago, polio cases have fallen by 99.8% from 20,000 cases in 1994 to 31 cases in 2025. Globally, the GPEI has reduced cases by 99.9% since 1988, and wild poliovirus type 1 remains endemic only in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Recent detections abroad serve as a reminder that continued polio vaccination and vigilance are essential.
WHO Representative in Pakistan Dr Luo Dapeng said, “Rotary’s support is the best example of how a partnership can protect millions of lives. WHO extends its deepest appreciation to Rotary for its continuing support as a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Rotary’s long-standing commitment is crucial in our journey towards a polio-free world.” He added that science indicates eradication is within reach if partnerships and vaccination campaigns are sustained.
An image from an October 2025 vaccination campaign shows WHO staff and a polio vaccinator working in Pakistan (photo credit: WHO Pakistan). Continued funding for polio vaccination and consistent campaign operations across high-risk districts will be critical to protect children and prevent future outbreaks.
