Geneva, March 3, 2025: The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the global fight against polio may face significant setbacks due to US funding cuts, potentially delaying the eradication of the disease and putting more children at risk of paralysis.
According to Hamid Jafari, WHO’s Director for Polio Eradication in the Eastern Mediterranean region, the withdrawal of US financial support has disrupted crucial programs, particularly in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the last two countries where wild poliovirus remains endemic.
The US had committed $133 million to the global polio eradication effort this year, but this funding is now missing. The US decision to terminate UNICEF’s polio grant followed a 90% reduction in USAID’s global grants, aligning with President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy.
The suspension of collaboration between WHO and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has further complicated eradication efforts.
“If the funding shortfall continues, it may delay eradication efforts and increase the risk of more children suffering from polio-induced paralysis,” Jafari warned, adding that prolonged efforts would also increase overall costs.
WHO, UNICEF, and the Gates Foundation are working on strategies to mitigate the shortfall, focusing on maintaining critical personnel and surveillance activities.
Vaccination campaigns in Afghanistan and Pakistan will continue, despite financial constraints.
Saudi Arabia recently contributed $500 million to the polio eradication program.
However, the global polio eradication partnership still faces a $2.4 billion funding gap until 2029, as the fight against the disease is proving longer and costlier than expected.
A spokesperson for the Gates Foundation emphasized that no single entity could replace the financial void left by the US, underscoring the urgent need for alternative funding sources.
