All set to launch year's last polio eradication drive across the country from Monday

Despite harsh weather conditions, more than 400,000 frontline workers will reach 45.5m children to give polio vaccine

KARACHI:

The last nationwide polio eradication campaign of the year is set to begin on Monday, aiming at vaccinating around 45.5 million children across the country.

The campaign was highlighted at an awareness event held at the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, where Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab, union council chairmen, health partners and community leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen local government support for polio eradication.

Addressing the gathering, Mayor Wahab stressed that the government alone cannot eliminate polio without public cooperation. “A clap requires two hands. The state needs your support,” he said, urging parents to ensure their children receive anti-polio drops whenever vaccination teams visit their homes.

He pointed out that Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only two countries in the world where polio has not yet been eradicated, while several Muslim-majority countries including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Nigeria have successfully eliminated the disease. “This shows that polio can be defeated through collective efforts,” he added.

Despite harsh weather conditions, more than 400,000 frontline polio workers will take part in the campaign, going door to door across the country to administer the vaccine. Health officials have described the campaign as a critical opportunity to protect children from lifelong disability, caused by the virus.

The mayor emphasised the role of women, religious leaders and community elders in dispelling misconceptions about the vaccine, saying mothers and sisters can play a key role in convincing families to vaccinate their children. He also praised lady health workers for their dedication, particularly during emergencies.

Calling Karachi the country’s most educated city, Wahab said it was important to counter negative perceptions surrounding polio vaccination.

On civic matters, the mayor said, each union council chairman is currently receiving Rs1.3 million in monthly funds, stressing the need for transparency and accountability in the use of public money. He also urged citizens to report stolen or missing sewer manhole covers by calling 1334.

The event was attended by representatives from multiple political parties, including the Pakistan Peoples Party, JUI-F and PTI, reflecting a rare show of political consensus on the need to protect children and eliminate polio from Pakistan once for all.