KARACHI:
Between 2020 to 2021, Pakistan reported little to no cases of polio. The health authorities were almost hopeful for a polio-free Pakistan. However, since the start of this year, the country has reported nearly 20 active cases. This has raised alarm and requires the country to boost vaccination efforts to prevent the virus from spiralling out of control.
Currently, most cases have been reported within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where vaccination drives have been slow due to mistrust among locals as well as religious clerics hampering efforts. Resultantly, most people do not let polio workers enter their homes. There have also been cases of violence against the workers.
People’s resistance to getting their children vaccinated has raised the risks of the virus spreading to other parts of the country. Samples of the virus have been found in wastewater in Karachi and parts of Punjab. Unfortunately, the government and people are not taking the resurgence as seriously as they should. The health authorities need to step up vaccination efforts and work with non-governmental and civil society organisations to improve awareness and outreach. They must also involve local leaders and clerics to speed up vaccine efforts.
Waseem Saleem
Gwadar
Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2022.
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