Pakistan has launched its final nationwide vaccination campaign against polio for the year, aiming to protect 45 million children as the country grapples with a significant surge in cases. The initiative began on December 18, 2024, and will run until December 22, with health officials stating the need is urgent following 63 confirmed cases reported this year.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan remain the only two countries where the paralyzing virus has not been eradicated. Ayesha Raza Farooq, the prime minister's adviser for the polio eradication program, emphasized the importance of community cooperation. "I am appealing to you to open your doors for health workers," she stated, underscoring the necessity of family participation for the campaign's success.
Launched amid high security, the vaccination drive will be focused primarily on children under the age of five across various provinces including Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan, with significant efforts targeting specific districts. Reports indicate nearly 23.3 million children are set to be vaccinated in Punjab alone, over 10 million in Sindh, and additional numbers spread across the regions.
The situation is dire, as Pakistan witnessed 63 new cases of polio this year, contrasting sharply with the decreased rates observed previously. The latest confirmed cases are particularly alarming because they indicate potential failures of the vaccination campaigns to reach all communities effectively.
Despite the importance of the campaign, health workers face severe risks as they navigate regions often tied to violence and anti-vaccination sentiments. Reports have detailed incidents where gunmen targeted polio workers under police escort. On December 18, one police officer was killed and another was wounded during attacks on health workers and their security teams, pointing to the real dangers those involved face daily.
Security measures have been ramped up considerably, with authorities deploying thousands of police officers to protect health workers following credible threats. Such violence against vaccination teams has been persistent, with over 200 polio workers and police officers killed since the 1990s. Local officials are working tirelessly to encourage families to allow health workers access to their children, reiteratively stressing the vaccine's protective role against polio.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently asserted the government's commitment to eradicate polio, expressing determination during his visit with medical personnel. "Our country will win the war against polio," he declared, calling for comprehensive community support to reinvigorate the nation’s fight against this infectious disease. His sentiments resonate particularly as he oversees the launch of such pivotal health initiatives aimed at millions of children.
Health workers will not only be visiting homes but also targeting community hubs like bus stops and medical facilities, ensuring comprehensive coverage illustrated by the provision of thousands of vaccination teams set to administer the oral polio vaccine across districts. The positive impact of such measures will only be reflected if every child receives their drops without fail and parents cooperate with visiting health staff.
With polio being highly infectious, the urgency of the situation cannot be overstated. Addressing both community participation and safety concerns, officials warn of reversing years of progress if vaccination coverage is insufficient. Past gains have shown promise; for example, Pakistan’s case count dramatically decreased to just one case reported during the entirety of 2021 before the resurgence noted since 2022. The risk of children becoming permanently disabled looms large if they are not vaccinated.
The focus on polio will remain pivotal as the campaigns proceed, with the final drive of 2024 serving as both a potential turning point and significant task to accomplish. Parents are called upon to fulfill their responsibility to immunize their children, not just for immediate safety, but for the long-term public health of Pakistan, marking each campaign as not just another public health initiative but as part of the collective fight against this crippling disease.
The nation anticipates positive outcomes from the diligent efforts of health workers and the security forces supporting them. The task, nonetheless, remains monumental, and the hope for Pakistan to eventually declare victory over polio hinges on cooperative community action, comprehensive public health strategies, and steady government resolution. A healthy future, free of polio, starts with these concerted efforts today.
