ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s government has kicked off a countrywide campaign to vaccinate 16.5 million children against poliovirus as the country battles this potentially life-threatening disease, state media reported on Tuesday.
This initiative came shortly after Pakistan reported its fourth polio case of the year on Saturday, involving a toddler from Shikarpur city.
Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries where the poliovirus, which can cause paralysis and be life-threatening, is still endemic. “A varied duration anti-polio vaccination campaign began across the country today,” stated Radio Pakistan. “During the campaign, the anti-polio vaccine will be administered to children under five years of age.”
In Punjab, the anti-polio drive has started in six specific districts and will continue until June 9. During this period, anti-polio drops will be administered to 6.4 million children in Lahore, Okara, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, and Mianwali.
In Sindh, a seven-day special anti-polio vaccination campaign began in 20 districts, including Karachi, targeting around 4.5 million children under five.
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In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a five-day anti-polio drive commenced in 23 districts on Monday, with more than 3.5 million children expected to receive the vaccine.
In Balochistan, a seven-day anti-polio campaign started in 14 districts, aiming to vaccinate over 1.8 million children. Due to an expected heatwave, the campaign in Naseerabad, Sibi, Jaffarabad, Usta Muhammad, Dera Bugti, and Sohbatpur will begin on the 8th of this month.
The Prime Minister’s coordinator on national health services, Malik Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath stated “Poliovirus has paralyzed four children this year and is consistently being detected in sewage samples, indicating a high risk to children,” he stated. “We are committed to eradicating polio from our country, and the support of parents and communities is crucial in achieving this goal”.
Pakistan’s efforts to contain polio have often faced opposition, particularly in KP, where militants have attacked vaccinators and their security teams.
