MIRANSHAH (Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa), Pakistan: The Utmanzai Jirga in North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has imposed a fine of Rs500,000 on parents permitting anti-polio vaccinations for their children.
This stance is intricately linked to the Jirga’s extensive demands, where Mufti Baitullah, the spokesperson, proclaimed a ban on the vaccination campaign, enforcing hefty fines and closing the Bannu-Miranshah Road, causing substantial disruptions.
Beyond immediate health risks from potential polio outbreaks, this decision underscores broader governance and law enforcement challenges. The Jirga’s 30-point demand list covers issues from maintaining district order to resource distribution and locating missing persons.
While rooted in local grievances, tying these demands to the critical polio vaccination drive has extensive implications for public health. Qadeer Dawar, a senior Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader in North Waziristan, urges the provincial government to address these demands to ensure vaccination continuity. However, he criticizes the Jirga’s ban, warning that such tactics may worsen rather than resolve issues. Dawar emphasizes the shortsightedness of jeopardizing their own children’s future with this decision.
The Utmanzai Jirga, in a four-month-long protest against rampant lawlessness, demands urgent action from government and security forces to restore order. These demonstrations, comprising sit-ins and boycotts, recently escalated with a complete withdrawal from the vaccination campaign, indicating heightened dissatisfaction.
This resistance stems from a tragic incident in September 2022, where a 10-month-old child in union council Ghulam Khan, North Waziristan, fell victim to wild polio. This marked the third case in the council and seventeenth in North Waziristan, emphasizing the pressing need for robust polio eradication measures.
Global Polio Eradication Initiative partners and representatives from various nations convened to address challenges hindering eradication efforts.
Federal Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel highlighted the escalated risk of wild polio transmission amid the country’s humanitarian crisis, stressing the necessity for support to safeguard children’s health.
While the poliovirus has surfaced beyond southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, containment efforts are underway to limit its spread. Dr. Shahzad Baig, National Emergency Operations Centre Coordinator, emphasized the importance of containment in southern KP for Pakistan’s overall success in eradicating polio.
