Battle against polio

The government has launched the last polio vaccination campaign of the year to tackle the rising number of cases of the deadly disease. To date, Pakistan has reported 63 poliovirus cases during the year. It seems all the progress the country had achieved over the past few years to eradicate the virus from the population has been lost. Balochistan accounts for a staggering 41% of the reported cases in 2024. The province, home to a marginalised population, has been the epicentre of Pakistan's polio resurgence. The region is fraught with conflict, economic instability and limited healthcare infrastructure. Vaccination campaigns face significant obstacles in the region. Many remote and volatile areas remain inaccessible to health workers due to security concerns, particularly in regions where insurgent groups have a strong presence. These security threats also deter polio teams from reaching children with life-saving vaccines, leaving them vulnerable to infection.

However, challenges are not just limited to a single province. Karachi, the largest city in the country, suffers from the highest number of refusals. Although the government has tried to combat misinformation and mistrust surrounding polio vaccination campaigns, it has had a limited effect on the populace. In response to the resurgence, the government and international health organisations must prioritise targeted interventions. This includes not only increasing security measures to protect polio vaccination teams but also addressing the underlying causes of vaccine hesitancy through community engagement and education campaigns. Local leaders, religious figures and influential community members must be actively involved in dispelling myths and encouraging families to vaccinate their children. If measures to reverse the current trend are not taken in the coming months, years of progress will be lost and also jeopardise global polio eradication efforts.