The World Health Organization (WHO) has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to supporting Pakistan’s efforts to eradicate poliomyelitis, describing the next six to twelve months as a critical period for interrupting the transmission of the virus.
During a high-level visit to Pakistan, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr Hanan Balkhy, praised the country’s leadership and emphasized that Pakistan now has a genuine opportunity to eliminate wild poliovirus if current efforts are intensified and sustained.
The visit was conducted alongside members of the Polio Oversight Board (POB), the highest decision-making body of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), highlighting the international community’s continued support for Pakistan’s vaccination campaign.
Pakistan Records Only Three Polio Cases in 2026
Pakistan has made remarkable progress in its fight against polio over the past three decades, achieving a 99.8% reduction in reported cases. According to WHO, only three cases of wild poliovirus have been reported in 2026, with transmission largely confined to southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Health experts believe the country is closer than ever to stopping the virus permanently.
Dr Balkhy said discussions with Pakistani authorities and health experts demonstrate that the country possesses all the necessary tools to eliminate polio, including effective vaccines, advanced surveillance systems, scientific expertise, and a dedicated workforce.
“Pakistan has a genuine opportunity to interrupt poliovirus transmission. We have the tools: proven vaccines, the best available science, and the extraordinary commitment of hundreds of thousands of frontline health workers, backed by steadfast Government leadership,” Dr Balkhy said.
She stressed that maximizing efforts during the coming months will determine whether Pakistan succeeds in ending the disease once and for all.
WHO Commends Pakistan’s Leadership Against Polio
Dr Balkhy praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Government of Pakistan for adopting a whole-of-government approach to protecting children from poliovirus.
The WHO Regional Director noted that continued political commitment, community engagement, and support for frontline vaccination teams remain essential to achieving eradication.
“The goal is within reach, and the cost of inaction—for Pakistan, the Region, and the world—would far outweigh the investment needed to finish the job,” she added.
Global Health Leaders Visit Pakistan
The WHO Regional Director was part of a distinguished international delegation led by Mike McGovern, Chair of the Polio Oversight Board and Rotary International’s PolioPlus Committee.
The delegation also included:
- Sanjay Wijesekera, UNICEF Asia Pacific Regional Director
- Dr Sania Nishtar, Chief Executive Officer of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
- Dr Chris Elias, President of Global Development at the Gates Foundation
- Dr Ziad Memish, Senior Advisor at KSrelief
- Dr Omotayo Bolu, Polio Team Lead at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The delegation held meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq, and senior Pakistan Army officials to discuss strategies for accelerating eradication efforts.
Frontline Health Workers Recognized
WHO officials also met with female frontline vaccination workers who play a crucial role in Pakistan’s nationwide immunization campaigns.
More than 400,000 polio workers, nearly 60% of whom are women, participate in multiple vaccination drives each year to ensure every child receives life-saving polio vaccines.
Dr Balkhy praised their dedication, describing frontline workers as the backbone of Pakistan’s eradication programme.
Pakistan and Afghanistan Must Work Together
Before arriving in Pakistan, the delegation visited Afghanistan, which has reported seven polio cases in 2026.
Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only two countries in the world where wild poliovirus is still endemic, making cross-border cooperation essential for eliminating the disease.
Dr Balkhy emphasized that both countries form a single epidemiological block and must strengthen coordination to stop virus transmission.
She also highlighted the importance of integrating polio campaigns with routine childhood immunization programmes to prevent future outbreaks.
“No child in the Region—or the world—will be safe until every child is safe,” she said.
Pakistan’s World-Class Polio Surveillance System
Pakistan continues to operate one of the world’s most comprehensive polio surveillance systems.
The country’s programme includes:
- More than 12,500 Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) reporting sites
- 127 environmental surveillance sites
- A WHO-accredited Regional Reference Polio Laboratory
This surveillance network enables health authorities to rapidly detect poliovirus circulation and respond with targeted vaccination campaigns.
Global Commitment to a Polio-Free Future
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) continues to work alongside the Government of Pakistan, WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, Rotary International, the Gates Foundation, and other international partners to eliminate the disease permanently.
Although polio has no cure, experts stress that it is entirely preventable through safe and effective vaccination.
With only a handful of cases remaining and strong international support in place, WHO believes Pakistan stands at a historic turning point in its decades-long fight against one of the world’s most infectious childhood diseases.
If intensified efforts continue over the coming months, Pakistan could move significantly closer to achieving the long-awaited goal of interrupting wild poliovirus transmission and contributing to a polio-free world.
