Saudi Arabia Partners With Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation To Eradicate Polio

Saudi Arabia has announced a strategic partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to eradicate polio. This significant announcement was made during the World Economic Forum Special Meeting in Riyadh. Under this partnership, 370 million children will be protected annually from polio. Notably, the partnership also aims to lift millions out of poverty across 33 Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) member countries.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will open a regional office in Riyadh as part of its operations. The foundation mentioned in its press release that the direct engagement of Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, has helped drive polio cases down from more than 300 cases in 2014 to 12 in 2023. According to the Gates Foundation, the only two wild polio endemic countries remaining are Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Gates Foundation also added that the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) will continue to need resources until polio cases reach zero and the world is certified polio-free. 

Saudi Arabia has pledged to give $500 million over the next five years as part of the efforts to help eradicate polio in children around the world. The country will also contribute $100 million to support the Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF). "I am proud to see the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, together with partners across the Middle East, step up to help deliver more polio vaccines, measles immunizations, and other vital health services to millions of children every year," said Bill Gates.