Polio cases in Pakistan on the rise: NIH urges continued funding

ISLAMABAD: The National Institute of Health (NIH) has provided a comprehensive overview of polio cases in Pakistan to the National Assembly. According to the Health Ministry, there have been 45 reported polio cases across the country over the past four years.
In 2021, only one case was documented, but the number rose to 20 in 2022. The NIH's statement noted that eight new cases were reported in 2023, and 16 cases have been recorded so far in 2024, as confirmed by the Ministry of Health.
The funding for the National Polio Eradication Program has varied over the years. In 2022, $180 million was allocated to the program. This increased to $187 million in 2023. For 2024, the program has been allocated $80 million.
Since January 2022, the total expenditure on polio eradication efforts has reached $447 million, reflecting the government's ongoing commitment to eradicating the disease from Pakistan.