Rotary Grants $9.9 Million to WHO for Polio Vaccination Campaigns in Pakistan
Rotary International has awarded a US$ 9.9 million grant to the World Health Organization (WHO) in Pakistan to support nationwide polio vaccination campaigns planned for 2026. The funding will help vaccinate around 27 million children in high-risk districts through door-to-door and subnational campaigns conducted under the Pakistan-led Polio Eradication Initiative. Overall, these campaigns aim to reach more than 45 million children annually across the country.
Pakistan’s Polio Drive Gets Fresh Boost as Rotary Pledges $14.9 Million
The grant forms part of a broader US$ 14.9 million Rotary contribution towards polio eradication in Pakistan. WHO will utilize the funds to strengthen campaign operations in Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab, covering essential operational costs such as human resources, training, transportation, vaccine carriers, and supplies for frontline health workers. These resources are critical to ensuring the effectiveness and reach of vaccination drives, particularly in high-risk and underserved areas.
Rotary Support Strengthens Pakistan’s Fight to Eradicate Polio in 2026
Pakistan has achieved significant progress in its fight against polio, reducing cases by 99.8 percent since 1994, though the virus remains endemic only in Pakistan and Afghanistan. WHO officials have emphasized that sustained funding, strong partnerships, and high-quality immunization campaigns remain essential, especially in light of recent detections of wild poliovirus outside endemic countries. Rotary, a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, has contributed nearly US$ 500 million to Pakistan and continues to play a key role through funding, advocacy, and volunteer engagement.
