Polio remains a threat to children’s health and future, making sustained commitment and funding from governments and international donors essential to ending the disease.
Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up healthy, and protecting that right requires continued investment in vaccination and public health services.
Governments must prioritise immunisation programmes by allocating adequate resources for vaccines, healthcare workers, public awareness campaigns and outreach activities.
Children in remote communities and areas affected by conflict or humanitarian emergencies should not be left behind because of limited access to health facilities.
International donors and development partners also have a responsibility to maintain their support.
Interruptions in funding can weaken vaccination campaigns, disrupt essential services and leave vulnerable children exposed to preventable diseases.
Support should therefore be predictable, long-term and coordinated with national health priorities.
Parents and community leaders must also play their part by ensuring children receive recommended vaccines and helping health workers address misinformation about immunisation.
Ending polio cannot be achieved through temporary campaigns alone. It requires sustained political commitment, adequate financing, strong health systems, and cooperation among governments, donors, and communities.
Children have a fundamental right to health and protection from preventable diseases. Governments and donors must honour this responsibility by sustaining their commitments and ensuring that no child is denied protection against polio because of financial constraints or geographical barriers. A polio-free world must remain a shared priority.