Pakistan’s 65th polio case in 2024 emerges from Balochistan

QUETTA: Another case of polio has been reported in Balochistan, raising Pakistan’s total tally for 2024 to 65. The latest reported case is of a one-and-a-half-year-old child in Balochistan’s Qila Abdullah district.

The total number of children affected by polio in Balochistan has increased to 27 with this new case.

Also read: PM Shehbaz vows to drive poliovirus out of Pakistan’s borders

It is notable here that the nationwide five-day anti-polio campaign has just concluded across Pakistan after its launch on December 16. In Balochistan, the campaign is set to begin on December 30. Despite repeated vaccination campaigns, the menace of polio continues to ail Pakistan.

PAKISTAN CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE WITH POLIO

Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world where polio still remains prevalent. Polio mostly affects children under five-year of age, but even adults who are not vaccinated may contract the crippling disease at any time in their lives.

Keeping the goal of eradicating polio from Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched the anti-polio vaccination campaign across the country on December 16. He said that provincial governments will need to collaborate for the anti-polio drive to be successful.

However, even before the campaign could kick off, the Quetta Health Alliance boycotted the campaign in Balochistan province. That also resulted in delayed start of the anti-polio drive, which is now expected to begin on December 30.

Meanwhile, in the violence struck Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well, the polio vaccination did not reach due to the road closures.

KHYBER PAKHTUKHWA’S STRINGENT MEASURES TO PROMOTE VACCINATION

Despite the situation in Kurram, Parachinar, the provincial government is implementing certain measures to promote anti-polio vaccines. On Sunday, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government subjected the issuance of union council certificates with the presentation of polio vaccination certificates. Now the marriage, divorce, birth and death certificates will not be issued without the vaccination certificates from the district health officers (DHO).

Also read: Polio vaccination certificate now required for UC certificates

Officials said that thousands of children across several districts of the province have been deprived of anti-polio vaccination. Parents still refuse to give anti-polio vaccination to their children which necessitated this measure, the health department said.