Karak's women expel polio teams

Women of the southern Karak district in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have expelled polio teams from the region and come onto the streets, braving the bitter cold, to protest prolonged gas load-shedding in their area.

They announced a boycott of the polio campaign across the area. The demonstrators carried gas bills and banners during their demonstration in the Seri Khwa area, declaring a boycott of the ongoing polio eradication campaign and expelling the polio team from the region.

The protesting women stated that their union council is a gas-producing area, yet they are deprived of supply. They added that with the arrival of winter, gas has completely disappeared.

Speaking to the media, the women vented their frustration, saying they were subjected to such hardships despite paying their bills on time.

They declared that the boycott of the polio campaign would continue until supply was restored.

It is worth noting that a seven-day anti-polio campaign is currently underway in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The government has also decided to take action against parents who refuse to vaccinate their children in Peshawar and other parts of the province.

Additionally, on December 18, the National Institute of Health's Regional Reference Laboratory confirmed four more polio cases in Pakistan, bringing the total number of polio cases in the country this year to 64.

Polio remains a significant public health concern, especially in regions like Karak. Vaccinating children is crucial to protect them from permanent paralysis, and even death caused by this debilitating virus. Polio primarily targets children under five years of age, making them the most vulnerable group.