Rotary International has announced a three-year, $150 million commitment to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) to fight the deadly disease.

Announced during the Global Citizen Festival, the funding will support efforts to eradicate polio—through surveillance, integration of routine immunizations, and targeted campaigns—particularly in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where wild poliovirus remains endemic. GPEI also works in 33 “outbreak” countries, including the Central African Republic, Liberia, Ukraine, the United States, and Yemen, as well as eight “at-risk” countries, including China, Iran, and Kenya.

Earlier this month, the governor of New York State declared a polio emergency following the detection of poliovirus in wastewater samples from areas in and around New York City. The disease also was detected circulating in London and Jerusalem earlier this year.

When Rotary launched its PolioPlus program in 1985, 1,000 children were being paralyzed by polio every day in 125 polio-endemic countries. Rotary and its members have contributed more than $2.6 billion to the fight to end polio.

“Decades ago, Rotary dared to imagine a world where children live free from the scourge of polio, and ever since we, in concert with committed partners, are close to making that dream a reality,” said Rotary International president Jennifer Jones. “However, recent events remind us that no one is safe until everyone is protected from polio. In 2021 alone, 25 million children worldwide missed vital immunizations, and we are dedicated to finishing the job of eradicating this deadly disease.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/shylendrahoode)