No child anywhere should suffer from this completely preventable disease. As little as 60 cents worth of vaccine can protect against polio, yet the fight to eradicate it remains urgent. This year, only Afghanistan and Pakistan have reported cases caused by the wild poliovirus, while Africa has gone over a year without a single case. Progress in Nigeria, which saw its last polio case in July 2014, has brought the region closer to being declared polio-free by the World Health Organization, though sustained efforts are needed to maintain this momentum.
Experts highlight Pakistan as the greatest challenge to global eradication, with the country accounting for nearly 90% of worldwide cases in 2014. However, recent data shows a near 75% reduction in cases during the first half of 2015 compared to the same period the previous year. In Afghanistan, fewer than 10 cases were reported in 2015, underscoring the importance of strengthening immunization campaigns. These efforts, supported by global advocacy and resources, aim to ensure no child is left vulnerable to a disease that once paralyzed 350,000 children annually.