Pakistan has reported a concerning increase in new polio cases since March, with a total of 32 new cases recorded. This surge comes as the government continues its efforts to eradicate the disease from the country.
The National Emergency Operation Center for Polio Eradication has highlighted the need for intensified measures to combat the spread of polio. A nationwide anti-polio campaign is set to kick off on October 28, aiming to vaccinate 32 million children across the country.
Officials remain optimistic that the situation will improve in the coming months through joint case investigations, high-quality vaccination rounds, and the provision of integrated health services to high-risk communities to enhance children's immunity.
Pakistan faces challenges in its polio eradication efforts, including attacks on vaccination workers and police involved in inoculation drives. Extremist groups have spread misinformation, falsely claiming that vaccination campaigns are part of a Western conspiracy.
Most of the new polio cases have been reported in the northwest and Balochistan province, bordering Afghanistan. The sudden halt of a vaccination campaign in Afghanistan by the Taliban government has raised concerns about the cross-border spread of the disease.
Pakistan and Afghanistan are among the few countries where polio transmission has not been halted. The recent developments in Afghanistan are expected to have significant implications for global polio eradication efforts.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has been a key supporter of Pakistan's anti-polio campaigns, pledging $1.2 billion to the cause. Government officials, including the Prime Minister's focal person for polio eradication, have emphasized the importance of vaccination and urged parents to ensure their children receive the necessary doses.
The recent increase in polio cases follows a disturbing incident where a polio worker was sexually assaulted during a vaccination campaign in Sindh province. Authorities have apprehended the perpetrators responsible for the heinous act.
