The recent commitment of $1.9 billion to eliminate polio worldwide marks a pivotal step in global health initiatives. This substantial funding aims to bolster efforts to eradicate this debilitating disease, protecting future generations from its consequences. Hosted in Abu Dhabi, the event brought together esteemed international leaders and key global contributors in healthcare, emphasizing the urgent need for cooperation to achieve a polio-free world.
Global Commitment to Polio Eradication
Abu Dhabi witnessed a high-profile event where international leaders and prominent contributors in the healthcare sector announced a collective commitment of $1.9 billion to support global efforts aimed at eradicating polio. This initiative includes approximately $1.2 billion in new funding, which will help reduce the remaining resource gap in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) strategy for 2022-2029. This concerted effort is expected to ensure that only $440 million will remain while significantly accelerating efforts to vaccinate 370 million children annually and strengthen health systems in affected countries.
Key Figures in Attendance
The event, titled “Investing in Humanity: United to Eradicate Polio,” was hosted by the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanitarian Action in partnership with the GPEI, as part of the Abu Dhabi Financial Week activities. Notable attendees included His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation; Pakistan’s Minister for Planning and Development, Ahsan Iqbal Chowdhry; Bill Gates, Co-chair of the Gates Foundation; and Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization. Leaders from various governments and international institutions also participated in the discussions.
Significant Pledges Made
During the event, various countries and donor organizations announced significant pledges, including $1.2 billion from the Gates Foundation, $140 million from the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation, $450 million from Rotary International, and $100 million from Bloomberg Philanthropies. Additional contributions came from Pakistan ($154 million), Germany ($62 million), the United States ($46 million), Japan ($6 million), IFANCA ($4 million), and Luxembourg ($3 million). Dr. Tedros noted, “We are on the brink of achieving a historic milestone for humanity by eradicating polio, but accomplishing this mission requires doubling our efforts from all parties.”
The Role of UAE Leadership
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has been a prominent global figure supporting the fight against polio, contributing over $525 million since 2011 to this vital cause. His leadership has been instrumental in mobilizing international resources and spotlighting the critical need to accelerate eradication efforts. Through the UAE’s polio vaccination campaign, over 850 million vaccine doses have reached children in Pakistan since 2014, with a targeted approach focusing on remote and hard-to-reach communities.
This event marks the third commitment moment hosted in Abu Dhabi, following conferences in 2013 and 2019, which collectively raised $6.6 billion to support global eradication efforts. Sheikh Mariam bint Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation, stated that “the announced pledges embody our shared will to eradicate polio and enhance health systems to protect every child from this preventable disease.”
Currently, wild poliovirus is endemic in only two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan, while outbreaks of the variant continue to threaten children worldwide. The commitments made reinforce the international resolve to complete the mission and safeguard future generations from a disease that once paralyzed a thousand children daily across 125 countries before global control initiatives emerged.
The successful eradication of polio would mark the second human disease eradicated in history after smallpox, with an expected economic benefit of more than $33 billion by 2100 compared to ongoing response costs to outbreaks. Bill Gates emphasized that “the fight against polio highlights what the world can achieve when united behind a common goal, and the new funding will help complete the mission and fortify health systems to protect children from the disease forever.”
Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg LLC and Bloomberg Philanthropies, remarked, “The Bloomberg Philanthropies Foundation has partnered with the Gates Foundation for over a decade to eliminate polio, and we are on the verge of achieving a historic milestone. The new support of $100 million will bring us closer to our goal, protecting more people from the devastating impact of this disease.”
Despite significant progress, the path to eradication has not been linear. After reaching historic low case levels in 2021 and 2022, 39 children contracted paralysis from the wild virus in Pakistan and Afghanistan this year, while the variant continues to spread in 18 countries, underlining the ongoing challenges in ensuring every child is reached.
Ahsan Iqbal, Pakistan’s Minister for Planning and Development, affirmed that “Pakistan is committed to eradicating polio and protecting every child. Through innovative vaccination strategies and enhancing community engagement, we are building trust and reaching more children, bringing us closer to achieving a polio-free Pakistan.”
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell stated that “the generous commitments made by donors, along with ongoing support from other partners, will enable health workers worldwide to reach every child, especially those who consistently miss vaccinations in the most vulnerable and conflict-affected areas.” UNICEF remains fully committed to its role in eradicating polio once and for all.
Dr. Sanya Nishtar, CEO of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), remarked, “Decades of global partnership, including the pivotal role played by the UAE alongside other key supporters, have brought us closer to ending polio than ever before. This new funding gives us renewed confidence that we will soon achieve a polio-free future for all children.”
Mike McGovern, Chair of the International PolioPlus Committee of Rotary International, highlighted that “20 million people can walk today thanks to polio vaccines. We have learned, developed, and innovated a lot through this journey, and Rotary will remain committed to this struggle until we achieve complete victory over the disease.”
German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Rem Ali-Radovan, reaffirmed, “Germany remains steadfast in its support for the global fight against polio. Collaborative efforts and investments in robust health systems, including vital contributions from WHO and UNICEF, can ensure that every child is protected from this preventable disease, wherever they are.”
Mohammad Munir Chaudry, President of IFANCA, stated that supporting children and protecting the most vulnerable aligns with IFANCA’s core mission. The unified commitment demonstrated at this event signifies an inspiring step towards a future free from polio.