A Balancing Act: risks and opportunities as polio and its funding disappears

As the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) winds down, the 16 countries that receive 95% of GPEI’s support will face significant challenges from decreased funding over the next three years. Addressing and overcoming these challenges must be an urgent political priority which, if left unresolved, could have a devastating effect on immunisation and health systems. Using case studies from Nigeria and Pakistan, A Balancing Act explores country-specific and global challenges as GPEI winds down. Crucially, it also looks positively for solutions to ensure that the world remains polio free and urges that we grasp this rare opportunity to refocus much-needed efforts on strengthening routine immunisation. If not taken, this will be an injustice to the millions of unimmunised children around the world.