24 October 2025 World Polio Day, objectives and how to celebrate

Jakarta – Every October 24 is celebrated as World Polio Day. This momentum is a reminder of the importance of vaccination and global efforts to completely eradicate polio. The commemoration of World Polio Day also aims to encourage the global community to stay awake. Although many countries have been declared polio-free, the threat of transmission has not completely disappeared. Scroll TO CONTINUE CONTENT Why is October 24 celebrated? World Polio Day is celebrated every year to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk, a scientist from the United States who discovered the first polio vaccine in the 1950s. This discovery is an important milestone in suppressing the spread of the disease that caused a global outbreak. Designating October 24 as World Polio Day then became a form of respect for his services. Since 1988, the World Health Assembly has set a global target to eradicate polio through the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) program supported by the WHO, UNICEF, Rotary International and several other global health institutions. The purpose of commemorating World Polio Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) said, World Polio Day is a reminder that polio was once one of the most dangerous diseases for children. Through mass vaccination and strict surveillance, the number of polio cases has fallen by more than 99 percent since the eradication program began. Referring to the WHO, only two countries still report transmission of the wild poliovirus, namely Afghanistan and Pakistan. Meanwhile, other countries continue to strengthen immunization and early detection systems to prevent the virus from reappearing. This alert is also an invitation to all parties to continue to sustain these achievements by expanding immunization coverage and raising public awareness. There are several ways to commemorate World Polio Day at the family and community level. Here are some things you can do: Check your child’s immunization status. Ensure that all children have received the polio vaccine according to the national immunization schedule. Share educational information. Use social media or community activities to spread the importance of vaccination and environmental beauty. Participate in health activities. Health departments, community health centers and educational institutions usually hold campaigns or education related to World Polio Day. Monitor official sources. Access information from the Ministry of Health or the WHO to find out the latest developments regarding polio eradication in the world. FYI, polio is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus that attacks the nervous system and can cause permanent paralysis or even death. World Polio Day is an opportunity to strengthen the commitment to protect children from this vaccine-preventable disease. (wia/imk)