Polio cases are on the rise in Pakistan just ahead of a crucial new vaccination campaign. Officials have reported a surge in new polio cases, which is hindering the country’s ongoing efforts to become polio-free.
Since the start of the year, Pakistan has confirmed 39 new cases of polio, a significant increase from just six cases reported last year. Anwarul Haq from the National Emergency Operation Center for Polio Eradication has highlighted the concerning trend.
The upcoming nationwide vaccination campaign is set to commence on October 28th, with the ambitious goal of vaccinating at least 32 million children across the country. Haq emphasised that the primary objective of these campaigns is to work towards achieving a polio-free status for Pakistan.
Despite facing challenges such as violence targeting health workers and the security forces protecting them, Pakistan consistently launches vaccination campaigns to combat polio. Some militant groups falsely propagate that these campaigns are part of a Western plot to sterilize children.
The majority of the new polio cases have been reported in Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab provinces. This distribution is particularly concerning as previous cases were concentrated in the northwest region bordering Afghanistan. Notably, the Taliban government in Afghanistan recently halted a vaccination campaign, impacting efforts in both countries due to frequent cross-border travel.
In Afghanistan, where polio transmission has never been halted, the World Health Organization has confirmed 18 cases this year, predominantly in the southern regions. The country successfully implemented a house-to-house vaccination strategy earlier this year, reaching a significant portion of the targeted children.
Health officials in Pakistan are advocating for synchronized anti-polio drives on both sides of the border to effectively combat the spread of this debilitating disease. The situation remains critical as both Pakistan and Afghanistan grapple with the challenge of eradicating polio and safeguarding the health of their populations.