In Islamabad, health officials have launched an extensive nationwide campaign focused on eradicating polio by vaccinating 45 million children over the course of a week. This effort is critical as Pakistan, along with Afghanistan, remains one of the last two countries where the polio virus still poses a significant threat, according to information from the World Health Organization.
The campaign comes on the heels of mixed progress in Pakistanโs battle against polio. Since January, the country has reported just six cases of the virus, marking a decrease compared to last year when 74 cases were documented. This is contrasted by a notably low number in 2021 when only one case was reported. Such figures highlight the fluctuating challenge of controlling polio within the region.
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has publicly appealed to parents for their cooperation in this health initiative. His plea emphasizes the importance of allowing medical professionals to carry out vaccinations through door-to-door visits, a method designed to reach as many children as possible during the weeklong effort.
However, such vaccination drives are fraught with danger. Health workers frequently face violent resistance from militants who wrongly perceive immunization efforts as part of a foreign agenda to harm Muslim children. These threats have led to the tragic deaths of over 200 polio workers and the security personnel assigned to protect them since the 1990s, underscoring the perilous conditions under which these campaigns are conducted.