What We DoIssuesGlobal HealthGlobal Health Resource CenterJointly Advancing Polio Eradication and Broader Global Health Goals
While there have been huge strides in eradicating polio, the disease remains a critical health threat. Polio is extremely contagious, can cause death and paralysis, has no cure, yet is preventable with a simple vaccine. Polio eradication through widespread vaccination is highly cost-effective, resulting in healthy children and reduced poverty.
Progress remains fragile, and numerous countries have experienced outbreaks of polio in recent years. Funding for a polio-free world remains vital. At the same time, the infrastructure to eradicate polio has been used for many global public health goals, as well as for pandemic preparedness and response.
The United Nation Foundation’s policy paper “Jointly Advancing Polio Eradication and Broader Global Health Goals: Successful synergies and recommendations” and accompanying video delve into how polio eradication efforts have contributed to the global goal of health for all, beyond stopping this dangerous disease.
This paper uses over 13 examples from Lower-Middle Income Countries (LMICs) to document how polio eradication has contributed to:
Recommendations are provided for donors, country governments, and global stakeholders to simultaneously eliminate polio while leveraging polio resources to contribute to critical global public health needs and pandemic preparedness. It also shows how effective transition planning is vital to ensure polio eradication while leveraging polio resources for improved health globally.
The two-minute video below touches on some of the most important aspects of the policy paper, giving a quick insight into how investment in polio eradication benefits the larger global health ecosystem.
Published February 11, 2025
