By Staff Reporter
Pakistan reported its 23rd polio case this year, after a 10-month-old child in Kohat was paralyzed by the virus, underscoring the challenges facing the country’s efforts to eliminate the disease amid persistent vaccination gaps.
The case marks the second in KP and highlights the ongoing threat of poliovirus transmission to children nationwide.
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) data, the country has struggled to eradicate polio, with 15 cases reported in Balochistan, four in Sindh, two in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and one each in Punjab and Islamabad this year.
“It is devastating that too many children are suffering the consequences of missed vaccination opportunities,” said Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq. “Polio is a terrible disease that alters a child’s life forever, snatching the chance to live up to their full potential.”
Farooq emphasized vaccination urgency. “Poliovirus is in your area and the consequences of a polio infection for children are devastating and irreversible,” she said. “The only means to protect them is to ensure all children under the age of five in your home and communities are vaccinated with multiple doses of oral polio vaccine and have completed their routine immunisation doses.”
Kohat has reported four positive environmental samples this year, while neighboring Peshawar has reported positive sewage samples for nearly a year, indicating silent virus transmission.
Consistent implementation of polio campaigns in KP has faced challenges due to population movement, insecurity, community mistrust, demands-based boycotts, and disruptions to access high-risk areas.
NEOC Coordinator Muhammad Anwarul Haq pledged to address gaps and challenges. “The virus has been showing immunity gaps and where we have missed children in the past. It is imperative for us to close these immunity gaps. Let’s unite against polio as a nation.”
Pakistan remains one of the last two polio-endemic countries globally, alongside neighboring Afghanistan. Despite significant progress since the launch of its eradication program in 1994, Pakistan has seen a resurgence of cases since late 2018, highlighting the fragility of gains made in the preceding years.
The country has faced numerous challenges in its fight against polio, including militancy, which has resulted in attacks on polio workers, particularly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Climate disasters, such as floods, have also disrupted vaccination efforts. Furthermore, gaps persist in supplementary immunization activities, especially in areas where the virus is still present.
To combat these challenges, the Pakistan Polio Eradication Program has planned two large-scale, door-to-door vaccination campaigns for later this year. These efforts aim to close immunity gaps and curb the spread of poliovirus. However, ensuring the safety of frontline workers and addressing ongoing disruptions remain critical concerns.
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