International efforts to eliminate polio worldwide are at a critical juncture, based on my personal observations in India. The objective of global polio eradication remains attainable.

In the ongoing battle against polio, the world is witnessing a concerning development: wild poliovirus strains linked to Pakistan have surfaced in Malawi and Mozambique. This emergence is attributed to disruptions in immunization services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and conflicts, which have led to lowered vaccination coverage and increased vulnerability. However, coordinated global vaccination efforts have since been intensified to prevent further spread and address outbreaks.

The global community's focus on the eradication of polio remains undeterred. The Gates Foundation, a key player in this fight, is committed to the Power of Science and Innovation in global health, including polio eradication programs. Dr. Naveen Thacker, a pediatrician and lifelong advocate against polio, shares this commitment.

Dr. Thacker's journey began in a small town in Gujarat, India, where he diagnosed 55 children with polio in a single month. Nearly one-third of those who fell ill eventually succumbed to the disease. His experiences propelled him into action, and he became involved in an immunization program with the help of the local Rotary Club.

In the 1990s, India accounted for 60% of all polio cases worldwide. However, significant strides have been made since then. In 2011, India saw its last case of endemic wild polio, a testament to the hard work and dedication of health workers like Dr. Thacker.

The GPEI (Global Polio Eradication Initiative) has launched a new five-year strategy that incorporates lessons learned to date about successful polio response and applies these lessons to the local contexts of Pakistan and Afghanistan, wild polio's last redoubts. This strategy includes the use of mobile payments to vaccination workers, a tool that promises to have similar benefits for any number of other public health initiatives.

A new "type 2" oral polio vaccine (nOPV2) has been developed, which is proving to be better at stopping outbreaks of type 2 variant polio more sustainably. This advancement, coupled with the global community's renewed commitment to polio eradication, brings us closer than ever to achieving this goal.

However, the world is not there yet. A circulating variant known as cVDPV has been detected in wastewater in London, New York City, and Israel and has even caused paralysis in one patient in New York. This serves as a reminder that the fight against polio is far from over, and more hard work lies ahead.

Recently, Dr. Thacker and more than 3,000 health experts and scientists signed a declaration urging the global community to fully invest in polio eradication programs. Their call echoes the sentiments of the Gates Foundation, which is focused on the end of polio and is committed to investing in polio eradication programs.

As we move towards a polio-free world, the stories of individuals like Dr. Thacker serve as a reminder of the impact that one person can have in the fight against a global scourge. Their dedication and perseverance offer hope that one day, polio will be eradicated from the face of the earth.

International efforts to eliminate polio worldwide are at a critical juncture, based on my personal observations in India. The objective of global polio eradication remains attainable.