Saudi Arabia steps up global fight against polio through KSrelief

Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen its global support for the health sector and the fight against epidemics through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), which marks World Polio Day each year on October 24.

The Kingdom has reaffirmed its commitment to combating polio by providing vaccines, conducting health awareness campaigns, and delivering medical support to countries in need, in partnership with international health organizations.

Through KSrelief, Saudi Arabia has implemented 15 projects worth more than $521 million across several countries, reflecting its cross-border humanitarian vision.

In 2023, KSrelief signed two agreements with the World Health Organization and UNICEF, providing $500 million to protect 370 million children annually from polio. Of this, $300 million supports WHO efforts in high-risk countries, particularly Pakistan and Afghanistan, while $200 million assists UNICEF in areas such as vaccine procurement, immunization campaigns, and support for health centers.

KSrelief also signed two other agreements with WHO and UNICEF in 2022 to prevent measles and polio in countries including Somalia, Sudan, Iraq, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Guinea, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, benefiting more than 14 million people.

In August 2016, the center provided the Palestinian Ministry of Health with 15,000 doses of meningitis vaccine and 15,000 doses of polio vaccine, and also supported efforts to combat the disease in Afghanistan.

These initiatives are part of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing humanitarian and relief support through KSrelief, underscoring its commitment to global health responsibility and international partnerships in disease control.