Advocacy

ADVOCACY

Poliomyelitis, a paralyzing and sometimes fatal disease, is on the brink of being only the second human disease ever eradicated. Since 1988, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI)—a partnership led by WHO, UNICEF, CDC, Rotary, and the Gates Foundation— has reduced global cases by over 99.9%, from 350,000 annually to just 12 in 2023, all in Pakistan and Afghanistan (WHO, 2024). However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic-related disruptions, more than 57 immunization campaigns in 30+ countries were halted leaving over 80 million children unvaccinated (GPEI Annual Report, 2023). These immunity gaps directly contributed to a sharp increase in vaccine-derived poliovirus outbreaks, now reported in over 30 countries, including areas long considered polio-free such as the United States, United Kingdom, and Mozambique (WHO; CDC).

Failure to finish eradication would mean a return of up to 200,000 polio cases annually within a decade, primarily in low-income countries, at a projected cost exceeding $50 billion over 20 years (GPEI Strategic Plan, 2022–2026). By contrast, completing eradication would eliminate the need for ongoing emergency campaigns and deliver over $1.5 billion in annual savings: resources that could be redirected to other public health priorities (GPEI Investment Case, 2023). Polio eradication has been a decades-long marathon, and we are now within reach of the finish line. It represents a rare opportunity in global health: a technically solvable challenge with a defined endpoint, proven tools, and the potential to permanently eliminate a human disease, alongside billions in long-term savings.

WHY LIAISON?

Liaison is the only civil society partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in Japan and serves as the secretariat of Japan’s Diet Task Force on Global Polio Eradication—a multipartisan parliamentary group focused on global health leadership. We bridge Japanese leadership with global partners to ensure sustained financing and coordination at the highest levels.

Our Track Record:

  • Since 2016, Liaison members have helped catalyze over ¥5.88 billion JPY (~$44 million USD) in Japanese aid for polio, despite limited public recognition of Japan’s role.

  • Convene politicians, global and local stakeholders, and experts on various panels and platforms annually for discussions around collaborative efforts around global health and polio eradication.

  • Coordinating formal policy requests and request letters to various ministries and departments.

  • Regularly inform WHO, UNICEF, the Gates Foundation, and GPEI on donor country situations, policy, and donor trends.

  • Designed creative public engagement campaigns such as “Recycle for Life” with global and local talent.


WHAT YOUR DONATION WILL MAKE POSSIBLE

With technical solutions in place, the final barrier to global polio eradication is sustained political coordination and strategic financing.  Liaison operates at the intersection of diplomacy, policy, and implementation, where targeted support can have system-wide impact. 

Your support will directly fund:

  • Enhanced Coordination Among GPEI-Aligned Legislatures: Facilitate knowledge exchange and policy alignment across legislative bodies in the U.S., EU, Japan, and polio-endemic countries to sustain unified momentum toward eradication.

  • Support for Program Implementation in Endemic Regions: Strengthen coordination between Japanese aid agencies (e.g., MOFA), GPEI partners (WHO, UNICEF), and field-level implementers in Pakistan and Afghanistan, where eradication efforts are most critical.

  • Strategic Visibility for Donor Governments: Design and deliver communications products and events to highlight donor country’s leadership in polio eradication, in conjunction with major global platforms such as the G7, UN General Assembly, and World Health Assembly.