Polio worker, cop killed in Bajaur attack

A polio worker and a police constable were killed in a militants attack on a polio teams in the Bajaur district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday, while another police constable was killed and two others wounded in separate incidents.

Unknown gunmen, riding a motorcycle, attacked a polio team in Momond tehsil, police said. The deceased were a polio worker Abu Khuraria and Police Constable Luqman, they added. a health department source stated that the campaign continued despite the attack.

Attacks on polio workers in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa remain a critical challenge in the ongoing fight to eradicate the disease. Despite relentless efforts by health workers to vaccinate children and eliminate the ailment, polio teams frequently face threats, violence, and even death.

Several incidents have occurred where polio workers and their security escorts have been killed or injured. This violence not only disrupts vaccination drives, but also places thousands of children at risk of contracting the virus.

The government and international organisations have called for enhanced security for polio workers, recognising their vital role in safeguarding public health. However, the continued targeting of health workers underscores the immense challenges in achieving the goal of eradicating polio once and for all.