The global fight against polio faces significant setbacks due to U.S. actions, particularly funding cuts to the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. These financial shortfalls could delay the eradication of the disease, according to senior WHO official Hamid Jafari.
Impact of U.S. Funding Cuts
The United States’ decision to withdraw from WHO and slash funding has severely impacted collaborative efforts with organizations like UNICEF and the Gates Foundation. The move aligns with former President Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ policy, leading to the termination of 90% of USAID’s global grants. Consequently, UNICEF’s polio grant was abruptly halted, leaving a massive gap in resources.
The WHO’s polio eradication programme is now missing $133 million from U.S. contributions expected this year. This funding is critical for personnel, surveillance, and vaccination campaigns in regions still battling polio, particularly Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Future of Polio Eradication
Jafari warns that the funding shortfall could delay the eradication process, resulting in more children becoming paralyzed and increased overall costs. The WHO and its partners are exploring alternative funding sources to sustain high-priority activities. However, without U.S. support, the journey to global polio eradication faces uncertainty.
Saudi Arabia recently pledged $500 million to the cause, but the partnership still faces a $2.4 billion shortfall through 2029. The fight against polio requires consistent global cooperation, and the absence of U.S. funding poses a major challenge.
Conclusion
U.S. actions have placed the global health community at a crossroads. While alternative funding sources are being sought, the reinstatement of U.S. financial support is crucial for timely polio eradication. The longer the fight continues, the higher the human and financial toll. Global cooperation remains the key to ending polio once and for all.
