Rotary Reaffirms Commitment to End Polio on World Polio Day

Rotary International marked World Polio Day by reiterating its long-standing support for Pakistan's fight against wild poliovirus, highlighting its $3 billion contribution and ongoing community projects.

NationPulse Desk

Oct 24, 2026 · 10:37 AM 2 min read

Key takeaways

Rotary International marked World Polio Day by restating support for Pakistan's fight against wild poliovirus, one of two endemic countries.

The organization co-founded the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988 when 350,000 children were affected annually.

Rotary has contributed over US$3 billion, including US$1.3 million from Pakistani members, protecting more than 45 million children.

Aziz Memon noted Rotary's work on water filtration plants, community resource centres, team support centres and transit posts across Pakistan.

Rotary urges governments, donors and partners to keep polio eradication a top priority.

On World Polio Day, Rotary International reiterated its decades-long backing of Pakistan's attempt to halt wild poliovirus transmission, one of only two countries where the virus is still endemic alongside Afghanistan.

World Polio Day, created by Rotary to honor Dr. Jonas Salk, who invented the first safe, effective polio vaccine more than 70 years ago, serves each October 24th as a chance to celebrate gains and renew the pledge to eradicate the disease.

Rotary, the initial organization to envision a polio-free world, co-founded the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in 1988 when 350,000 children fell ill annually across 125 nations. Thanks to Rotary and GPEI partners, cases have dropped by over 99.9 percent, preventing paralysis for more than 20 million people.

"We have contributed more than US$3 billion, including US$1.3 million from Rotary members in Pakistan–and invested more than half a billion of these funds and countless volunteer hours to protect over 45 million children in Pakistan from this paralyzing disease," said Rotary International President Olayinka Hakeem Babalola, who also helped lead Nigeria's 2020 wild-polio-free certification. "Africa's achievement demonstrates that with collaboration and political and financial support, ending polio in Pakistan and eradicating it globally is possible."

Rotary members also lobby for governmental backing and raise public awareness about polio immunisation, a vital role in Pakistan where vaccine refusals still hinder full coverage.

"Pakistan is demonstrating strong progress with only a handful of reported cases this year, and in order to safeguard our credibility and maintain trust, we are continuing to address other community needs," said Aziz Memon, chair of Rotary's Pakistan National PolioPlus Committee. "For example, the Committee has helped establish water filtration plants across Pakistan, resource centers to bond with the community, team support centers to facilitate frontline workers, and permanent transit posts to cover children in transit."

While Rotary and its GPEI partners possess the tools and know-how to finish polio eradication, it remains essential that governments, donors and partners keep the effort a priority. Visit endpolio.org to learn more.

Questions and answers

How much has Rotary contributed to polio eradication globally?

Rotary has contributed more than US$3 billion, including US$1.3 million from members in Pakistan.

What community projects has Rotary's Pakistan National PolioPlus Committee implemented?

The Committee has helped set up water filtration plants, community resource centres, team support centres for frontline workers, and permanent transit posts for children in transit.