Rotary Grant Boosts Polio Protection for 27 Million Children in Pakistan

Rotary International’s grant will enable part of the World Health Organization’s operations, in partnership with the Pakistan-led Polio Eradication Initiative, to protect over 45 million children against the global threat of paralytic polio in 2026. 21 January 2026 – Islamabad, Pakistan – Rotary International has provided a grant of US$ 9.9 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) in Pakistan to support the vaccination of 27 million children against polio in high-risk districts. This partnership will reinforce the operations of the Government of Pakistan-led Polio Eradication Initiative, which conducts multiple nationwide door-to-door campaigns and subnational drives each year, reaching over 45 million children. Rotary is a founding member of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) – a public-private partnership to eradicate polio worldwide led by national governments with 6 partners: WHO, Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, Gates Foundation and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Since the launch of Pakistan’s Polio Eradication Initiative 3 decades ago, Pakistan has reduced polio cases by 99.8% – from 20 000 cases in 1994 to 31 cases in 2025. Globally, since 1988, GPEI has brought down polio cases by 99.9%. As of today, wild poliovirus type 1 remains endemic only in two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan. To date, Rotary has contributed US$ 3 billion to global polio eradication efforts and nearly US$ 500 million to Pakistan, along with high-level advocacy and countless volunteer hours. “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,” said WHO Representative in Pakistan Dr Luo Dapeng. “Science indicates that ending polio in Pakistan and worldwide is within reach if we sustain the ongoing partnership and eradication efforts. However, the detection of wild poliovirus type 1 in Germany last November is a strong reminder that the cost of inaction would be far greater than the cost of action, since no country and no child will be safe until the virus is fully eradicated everywhere.” The grant to WHO Pakistan is part of a larger US$ 14.9 million contribution to overall polio eradication efforts in Pakistan. With these funds, WHO will support polio immunization in high-risk districts of Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. The funds will be allocated to campaign operations, including human resources and incentives, training, transportation, supplies for frontline workers, vaccine carriers, and operational costs. For additional information, please contact: José Ignacio Martín Galán, Head of Communications, WHO Pakistan: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Maryam Yunus, National Professional Officer – Communications, WHO Pakistan: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. About WHO