Partners & Donors

The Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme is a public-private partnership led by The Government of Pakistan, and spearheaded by partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Rotary International and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme has always been driven by strong Government commitment and leadership. Such commitment and leadership has been critical to ensuring that polio eradication remains a top priority under each Government and has unwavering support from across the political spectrum. Government management and oversight has sustained programme operations at every level, including functionality and coordination across National and Provincial Emergency Operation Centres, the National Task Force, Provincial Task Forces, Divisional Task Forces, and District Polio Control Rooms.

The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination maintains direct oversight of the implementation of the National Emergency Action Plan (NEAP) for Polio Eradication. All operational oversight is provided by the National Coordinator at the National Emergency Operations Centre in collaboration with all Provincial Emergency Operations Centre Coordinators situated in the provinces.

WHO coordinates the major strategic planning, management and administration processes of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). WHO is responsible for the systematic collection, collation and dissemination of standardized information on strategy implementation and impact, particularly in the areas of surveillance and supplementary immunization activities.

WHO also coordinates operational and basic research, provides technical and operational support to the Ministry of Health, and coordinates training and deployment of human resources for supplementary technical assistance.

In addition, WHO has a lead role in establishing certification-standard surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), resource mobilization, donor coordination, advocacy and communications. WHO serves as a secretariat for the certification process and facilitates implementation and monitoring of biocontainment activities.

To read more about World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme.

Rotary International is the world's first and largest humanitarian service organization, with a global network of 1.2 million members in more than 200 countries.

Through its PolioPlus programme, established in 1985, Rotary became one the first organizations to envisage a polio-free world. More than one million Rotary members have volunteered their time and personal resources to polio eradication.

Rotary members have also provided valuable field support during National Immunization Days through social mobilization activities and by administering the oral polio vaccine to children.

To read more about Rotary International and the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme.

CDC works to protect people from health threats by conducting critical scientific research and supplying health information. CDC provides scientific and technical expertise to the GPEI through the Global Immunization Division (GID), Polio and Picornavirus Laboratory, and Stop Transmission of Polio (STOP) teams. GID staff works jointly with WHO, UNICEF, and other GPEI partners, as well as national Ministries of Health,to plan and monitor polio surveillance and immunization activities in countries, and supports other eradication projects, such as tracking disease transmission trends and vaccine efficacy research.

The Polio and Picornavirus Laboratory in CDC’s Division of Viral Diseases is a WHO Global Specialized Laboratory and delivers technical and programmatic assistance to the Global Polio Laboratory Network. CDC’s labs provide critical diagnostic services, perform genomic sequencing of polioviruses to guide eradication efforts, and help overcome specific operational challenges to enable more rapid detection of wild poliovirus and allow for faster outbreak response. STOP staffers help build capacity for acute flaccid paralysis surveillance, the gold-standard for detecting polio, as well as plan, implement, and evaluate immunization campaigns, in collaboration with GPEI partners.

To read more about US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Polio Eradication Programme.

UNICEF procures and distributes polio vaccines for routine and supplementary immunizations. In addition, UNICEF supports Pakistan in the implementation of intensified National Immunization Days. (NIDs) and Sub-National Immunization Days (SNIDs), and mop-up campaigns through the funding of more than 20,000 community-based vaccinators, nearly all female (allowing the vaccinators to immunize children who are “inside the home”).

UNICEF also helps the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme develop communication strategies that are vital in encouraging local acceptance of the vaccine.

UNICEF also assists in developing action plans and securing logistical access to hard-to-reach places, especially in countries affected by conflict. UNICEF contributes to the development of eradication policies, plans of action, training materials and public information, while also being an active partner in advocacy and resource mobilization.

To read more about UNICEF and immunization programmes,

Polio eradication is a top priority of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. As a major supporter of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), it contributes technical and financial resources to partners to accelerate efforts to eradicate polio.

The Foundation is also working with partners on innovative ways to enhance polio surveillance and outbreak response, accelerate the development and use of safer and more effective polio vaccines, while also galvanizing financial and political support for polio eradication efforts from both donor and polio-affected countries.

To read more about Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Polio Eradication Programme.

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a public-private partnership committed to saving children’s lives and protecting people’s health by increasing equitable use of vaccines in lower-income countries. Gavi uses innovative finance mechanisms to secure sustainable funding and adequate supply of quality vaccines. Since 2000, Gavi has contributed to the immunisation of more than 760 million children and the prevention of over 13 million future deaths.

Gavi supports the inclusion of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) in routine immunisation programmes and the strengthening of health systems in Gavi-supported countries. Gavi and GPEI collaborated to successfully introduce IPV into the national immunisation programmes of 71 Gavi-supported countries by early 2019 – the fastest ever global introduction of a new vaccine and a critical milestone for achieving and sustaining a polio-free world.

In June 2018, the Gavi Board exceptionally approved support for IPV for 2019-20 and furthered its engagement in the fight against polio in June 2019 when the Board approved continued IPV support as an integral part of Gavi’s next strategic cycle. This will ensure every child is protected against the disease and provide insurance against polio re-emergence once it is eradicated. Gavi joined the GPEI in March 2019.

To read more about Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and Polio Eradication Programme.