Rotary Reaffirms Commitment to End Polio as Pakistan Reports Progress

Rotary International has reaffirmed its commitment to ending polio in Pakistan, highlighting progress in the fight against the disease and calling for continued government support, funding and public cooperation.

Ahead of World Polio Day on October 24, Rotary stressed that Pakistan remains one of only two countries where wild poliovirus is endemic, alongside Afghanistan. The organisation said sustained vaccination efforts and community engagement remain essential to stopping transmission.

World Polio Day honours Dr Jonas Salk, who developed the first safe and effective polio vaccine more than 70 years ago. Rotary established the observance to recognise progress and renew global efforts to eradicate the disease.

Global Polio Cases Fall by More Than 99.9%

Rotary was among the first organisations to campaign for a polio-free world. It also helped establish the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in 1988, when polio affected around 350,000 children annually across 125 countries.

Since then, reported polio cases worldwide have fallen by more than 99.9%, according to Rotary. The organization said eradication efforts have helped spare more than 20 million people from paralysis.

Rotary International President Olayinka Hakeem Babalola said the organization had contributed more than US$3 billion to global polio eradication efforts. Rotary members in Pakistan have contributed US$1.3 million, while the wider programme has supported efforts to protect more than 45 million children in the country.

Babalola, who helped lead eradication efforts in Nigeria before Africa was certified free of wild poliovirus in 2020, said the achievement showed that collaboration and sustained political and financial support could make eradication possible in Pakistan and worldwide.

Community Engagement Remains Critical in Pakistan

Rotary members also advocate for government support and raise awareness about polio vaccination. These efforts are particularly important in Pakistan, where vaccine refusals continue to make it difficult to reach every child.

Aziz Memon, chair of Rotary’s Pakistan National PolioPlus Committee, said Pakistan had made progress, with only a handful of reported cases so far in 2026, according to his statement.

He said Rotary was also working to address wider community needs to strengthen public trust and support vaccination efforts.

The committee has helped establish water filtration plants, community resource centres, support centres for frontline workers and permanent transit posts to reach children travelling between locations.

These initiatives aim to strengthen links with communities and help vaccination teams reach more children, including those who might otherwise be missed during campaigns.

Continued Support Needed to Eradicate Polio

Rotary said it and its GPEI partners have the tools and expertise needed to end polio. However, it stressed that eradication must remain a priority for governments, donors and international partners.

For Pakistan, maintaining vaccination coverage, building community confidence and ensuring frontline teams can reach every child will remain central to stopping the virus.

Rotary has urged stakeholders to sustain their commitment until polio is eradicated globally. More information about the campaign is available at endpolio.org.