The WHO marks World Polio Day by urging nations to end polio transmission globally through immunisation and surveillance efforts.
GENEVA: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has renewed its global call to action to finally eradicate polio, as the world commemorates World Polio Day on 24 October. The infectious viral disease once paralysed nearly 350,000 children annually but has now been reduced to fewer than 50 cases per year — a 99% drop since 1988.
The turning point came 35 years ago when the international community, under WHO leadership, launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Since then, mass immunisation campaigns and global cooperation have pushed the virus to the brink of extinction, with only 36 cases reported worldwide so far in 2025.
Speaking on the occasion, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated, “Decades ago, the world overcame geopolitical and geographic barriers to end smallpox. Let’s do the same for polio. Let’s finish the job.”
The call to action is not just symbolic but a reminder of the fragile progress that can easily be reversed. WHO officials urged member nations, particularly in vulnerable regions, to maintain strong vaccination drives, enhance surveillance and invest in resilient health systems. Dr. Catharina Boehme, WHO’s Southeast Asia lead, emphasised the importance of protecting every child from the disease and building a healthier, polio-free future for all.
Polio remains endemic in a few countries, but WHO believes that with sustained international support, eradication is within reach — and finishing the job is not just a goal but a global responsibility.
