The wild poliovirus remains endemic in just two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan. Eradication is within sight, but the last mile is the most difficult.
UNICEF USA's Michael J. Nyenhuis and IFANCA's Dr. Muhammed Munir Chaudry discuss how philanthropy can help finish the fight to eradicate polio.
Polio eradication is within reach: vaccinating every child requires trust, access and sustained investment
As President and CEO of UNICEF USA, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing what is possible when committed partners come together around the shared mission of safeguarding the future for children everywhere. Today, we are closer than ever to eradicating polio — a once-devastating disease that has been reduced by more than 99 percent globally.
Yet the final mile remains the hardest. Polio persists in just two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan, areas where reaching every child requires not just vaccines, but trust, access and sustained investment. This is precisely why partnerships like the one between IFANCA (Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America) and UNICEF are so critical at this moment.
IFANCA’s recently renewed commitment comes at a pivotal time; not only in the fight against polio, but in the ongoing work to strengthen the broader systems that protect children from similar preventable diseases. From nutrition to immunization, as well as global coordination and community-level engagement, this collaboration reflects what it takes to drive lasting and systemic impact.
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Michael J. Nyenhuis