Eastern Mediterranean Ministers Reaffirm Polio Pledge Amid Budget Cuts
WHO regional committee in Cairo reaffirms polio eradication commitment as wild virus persists in Afghanistan and Pakistan and funding falls.
The story in focus
At the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean in Cairo, health ministers reaffirmed commitments to ending polio and strengthening immunization systems, even as WHO's regional office absorbs a 14% budget cut and humanitarian funding declines. Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the only countries with endemic wild poliovirus.
- Ministers met in Cairo from 13 to 15 October 2026 at the WHO Regional Committee's 73rd session.
- Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the only countries where wild poliovirus is endemic, with transmission concentrated in high-risk areas.
- Circulating variant poliovirus continues to threaten parts of Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
Commitments made despite financial strain
Health ministers and partners at the WHO Regional Committee's 73rd session in Cairo, held 13 to 15 October 2026, reaffirmed regional commitment to ending polio and to building immunization systems that reach every child.
WHO's Officer-in-Charge, Dr Adham Ismail, said the regional office had absorbed a 14% budget cut by prioritizing programmes, including polio, health emergencies and universal health coverage, while strengthening performance indicators and programme governance. Discussions stressed that political leadership, stronger immunization systems and regional cooperation matter more as humanitarian funding decreases.
Where the virus persists
The Regional Subcommittee for Polio Eradication and Outbreaks reviewed progress at its 15th meeting. Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the only countries where wild poliovirus is endemic, with transmission concentrated in southern Afghanistan and southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan.
Circulating variant poliovirus continues to pose a threat in parts of the Region, including Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Member States said progress depends on sustained political commitment, stronger surveillance and high-quality vaccination campaigns that reach children in difficult settings.
Afghanistan initiative and immunization reform
Executive sponsors of Afghanistan's Polio Legacy Challenge, including representatives from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, met on the sidelines to review the initiative, which links polio eradication with broader access to essential health services.
A dialogue organized by WHO and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, examined how global health reforms can support country-led immunization programmes, with ministers sharing experience of Gavi's simplified operating model and efforts to reach zero-dose children and displaced populations.
Which countries still have endemic wild poliovirus?
According to the WHO Regional Committee discussion, Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the only two countries where wild poliovirus is endemic, with transmission concentrated in high-risk areas of both.
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