Health workers in Pakistan have launched a campaign to vaccinate 9.5 million children against polio in 41 districts, focusing on areas where polio-positive sewage samples have been found. Despite ongoing efforts to eradicate the disease, six cases have already been reported this year. The country remains one of only two in the world where polio is still endemic, with over 357 cases reported since 2015.
The vaccination campaigns are organized by the government-run National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC), involving more than 350,000 health workers reaching children under the age of five. However, issues such as security threats, misinformation linked to religious beliefs, and low pay for health workers have posed challenges to the campaign.
Despite setbacks, Pakistan aims to be polio-free by 2026, with health officials hopeful due to significant progress in reducing cases over the past few years. While concerns have been raised about the re-emergence of the virus in certain areas, the programs in Pakistan and Afghanistan are considered mature and adaptable, leading to a level of population immunity that has prevented widespread outbreaks.
Efforts to reach the final, hard-to-reach populations are crucial for the success of the polio eradication campaign in Pakistan. Despite facing obstacles, health authorities are committed to achieving their goal and remain optimistic about the progress made in recent years.
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