Global efforts to eradicate polio as a global health threat face challenges due to recent unforeseen setbacks. A senior official from the World Health Organization has issued a warning that the goal of eliminating polio may be delayed unless significant funding cuts from the United States are reversed. These funding cuts, potentially amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars over several years, could have a detrimental impact on the collaborative efforts of organizations such as the WHO, UNICEF, and the Gates Foundation towards ending polio.
The withdrawal of the United States from the WHO has disrupted vital collaborations, including the cessation of partnership with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last week, UNICEF’s polio grant was terminated following a drastic 90% reduction in grants worldwide by the U.S. State Department as part of President Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ policy. This abrupt decision has left a significant funding gap of $133 million from the U.S. that was anticipated for this year, particularly affecting the polio eradication program in the WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean region encompassing countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan where the wild poliovirus persists.
Hamid Jafari, director of the WHO’s polio eradication program in the Eastern Mediterranean region, expressed concerns over the potential consequences of the funding shortfall, warning of delays in eradicating polio and an increased risk of more children being paralyzed if the situation persists. Efforts are being made to mitigate the impact of the funding shortage by exploring alternative funding sources to sustain critical personnel and surveillance activities. However, the hope remains that the U.S. will reconsider its decision and resume its support for the fight against polio.
Despite the challenges posed by the funding cuts, vaccination campaigns in Afghanistan and Pakistan are expected to continue. While UNICEF did not provide a comment on the matter, a spokesperson from the Gates Foundation reiterated that no organization could fully compensate for the gap left by the U.S. Saudi Arabia recently contributed $500 million towards polio eradication, providing some relief amidst the financial strain faced by the partnership.
The ongoing financial challenges add to an existing shortfall of $2.4 billion projected until 2029 for the global polio eradication efforts. Last year, it was acknowledged that the timeline and cost of eradicating the disease would likely surpass initial estimations, reinforcing the critical need for sustained support and collaboration to achieve this important public health goal.
