Nationwide polio campaign begins today

ISLAMABAD: Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal launched Pakistan’s latest anti-polio campaign on Monday. During a press conference at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), he stressed the critical need for vaccination against the incurable yet preventable disease. The minister revealed that polio virus traces have been detected in 50 districts across Pakistan, marking them as high-risk areas requiring urgent intervention.

In a significant move, Pakistan and Afghanistan have synchronised their vaccination efforts, though the campaign will not cover Afghanistan’s Kandahar region. Minister Kamal made a passionate appeal to parents, stating, “Polio isn’t political — it’s about our future generations,” while urging them to reject vaccine misinformation. He said, “Unlike cancer, polio has no cure. Vaccination is the only shield.”

Third national anti-polio campaign of 2025 to kick off

The campaign aims to reach over 40 million children under five years old. This initiative comes as Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only countries where polio is still endemic, with Pakistan reporting six cases in 2024 alone. The minister highlighted the persistent risk of cross-border transmission, underscoring the importance of nationwide immunization efforts to protect children from the debilitating disease.