QUETTA, Pakistan — On Wednesday, a polio vaccination initiative in the troubled southern province of Balochistan was put on hold by Pakistani officials following a boycott by health workers opposing potential privatization of state hospitals.
This campaign was part of a broader effort launched on Monday, which aimed to immunize 45 million children nationwide against polio. The World Health Organization has indicated that Pakistan, along with Afghanistan, is one of the last two countries where the dangerous and debilitating virus has yet to be eradicated.
Anwarul Haq from the National Emergency Operation Center for Polio Eradication announced that the Balochistan vaccination drive has been rescheduled to December 30 to ensure “better preparedness.” However, he did not elaborate on the situation.
In contrast, other health officials indicated that the postponement arose due to health workers boycotting the campaign, demanding the government halt its plans for hospital privatization, which directly affects their employment. Additionally, these workers are advocating for the exclusion of unqualified personnel from participating in the vaccination effort.
Balochistan has unfortunately recorded the highest incidence of polio cases this year, accounting for 26 out of the total 63 cases reported across the nation since January. The ongoing campaign in other regions of Pakistan will continue until December 22.
Despite facing violence and attacks directed at those involved in vaccination efforts, Pakistan continues to carry out these crucial polio campaigns. There are persistent threats from militants who incorrectly propagate the idea that vaccination drives are part of a Western plot to sterilize children.
Reports indicate that since the 1990s, over 200 polio workers and the police assigned to safeguard them have lost their lives in attacks, according to various health officials.
In addition to polio eradication efforts, Pakistan is also grappling with insurgent activity throughout the nation. On Wednesday, military operations in the northwest resulted in the deaths of eleven militants. In a statement, the military described the individuals as “khwarij,” which refers to members of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group that is distinct from the Afghan Taliban, despite their similarities.
The complexities of these ongoing health and security challenges illustrate the difficulties that Pakistan faces in its efforts to stabilize the region while ensuring the health and safety of its children.
