The World Health Organization (WHO) celebrates World Polio Day every year on October 24 to raise awareness about the significance of polio vaccination in protecting every child from this devastating disease.

Polio is a highly contagious viral disease, mainly affecting children under the age of five through the spread of the infectious poliovirus and can lead to irreversible paralysis or may damage the parts of the brain, which can cause death. This is why World Polio Day was established to eradicate polio worldwide and to ensure a polio-free future for everyone.

This year’s theme, End Polio: Every Child, Every Vaccine, Everywhere, calls for ensuring that no child, in any setting, regardless of where they live, is left unprotected. It highlights the shared responsibility of governments, health workers, and communities worldwide to reach every child with lifesaving vaccines and finally bring an end to polio once and for all.