Pakistan’s efforts to eradicate polio have been dealt a major blow as international funding has been slashed by up to 20%, with the United States reducing its contributions to global health organisations.
The shortfall is forcing Pakistan’s health authorities to restructure vaccination campaigns and push for a one-year deadline to wipe out the virus.
Shrinking global funding
Pakistan receives its polio eradication support through the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in Geneva. Each year, about $250 million is spent on anti-polio efforts in the country, with 80% of funding provided by USAID, UNICEF, WHO, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and other partners.
The Health Ministry noted that while Pakistan’s friendly countries also participate in funding, global contributions are gradually shrinking, creating urgent challenges for the campaign.
Pakistan’s revised polio strategy
In response to the reduced funding, the Ministry of Health has decided to introduce a new strategy. From next year, polio campaigns will be limited to three days instead of five, and the number of district and tehsil-level staff will be reduced.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said the government will focus on using all available resources to make Pakistan polio-free within a year. “Due to reduced funding, we have no option left but to eradicate polio in the next 12 months,” he stressed.
‘We must eliminate polio within a year’
The minister acknowledged Pakistan’s economic conditions are not strong enough to bear the burden if international support continues to shrink. He emphasized that this setback should be treated as an opportunity to completely eliminate polio forever.
“In the next one year, we must eradicate polio. There is no other choice left,” Mustafa Kamal said, adding that despite the funding crisis, the government is determined to deliver results.
