World Polio Day today

ISLAMABAD: World Polio Day, observed annually on October 24th, is being celebrated today (Tuesday) across the globe including Pakistan– highlighting the significant progress made in the global fight against polio virus.

This year, the theme of the day is “A Healthier Future for Mothers and Children.”

Polio, a crippling and potentially fatal disease, has been on the brink of eradication for several years. Thanks to extensive vaccination campaigns, healthcare workers, and volunteers worldwide, the number of polio cases has dramatically decreased.

Many regions have already been declared polio-free, but challenges remain in some parts of the world.

Pakistan continues to grapple with the stubborn presence of polio, with the confirmation of the fourth case this year. Environmental samples from all four provinces revealed the persistence of the poliovirus, despite the nation’s longstanding efforts to combat the disease.

The battle against polio in Pakistan has been a decades-long struggle. Prior to the initiation of the anti-polio program in 1994, over 20,000 children were afflicted with lifelong disabilities each year due to the disease. The introduction of continuous polio vaccination campaigns brought about a gradual reduction in the incidence of the disease, offering hope for a polio-free future.

Official statistics reveal the fluctuating nature of polio cases in Pakistan over the past decade. In 2014, the country reported a staggering 306 cases, which saw a significant drop to 20 in 2016, and further decreased to just one case in 2021. However, in 2023, Pakistan has already reported four cases. These statistics underscore the ongoing challenges in the battle against this crippling disease.

Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi said in his message on World Polio Day that every section of the society had to play its effective role to tackle the challenge of polio.

“The world has defeated polio, but polio still exists in Pakistan and Afghanistan,” Mohsin Naqvi said.

“The responsibility of making Pakistan polio free is on the shoulders of every Pakistani,” he emphasised.

“Parents are requested to give their children anti-polio drops and protect them from the disease,” he appealed.

“I salute the efforts of the workers and organisations involved in the fight against polio,” he commended.

“Only through joint efforts can we eradicate polio from this planet for generations to come,” he pointed out.

“Today, we pledge to root out this disease,” he vowed.