The Global Polio Eradication Initiative

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative is a worldwide effort to eliminate polio, a contagious viral disease that can cause paralysis. Launched in 1988, it involves governments, organizations, and health workers working together to vaccinate children, improve sanitation, and monitor outbreaks. The goal is to interrupt the transmission of the poliovirus completely, so that no new cases occur anywhere in the world. Significant progress has been made, with many regions now polio-free, but ongoing vaccination and surveillance are essential to prevent the disease's return and achieve complete global eradication.