Polio’s Dark Shadow: A Threat to Pakistan’s Children
Despite efforts, polio remains a deadly reality in Pakistan
Shakila Jalil
shakila.jalil01@gmail.com
The recent diagnosis of a 6-year-old child with polio in Chakwal, Punjab, has raised questions about the effectiveness of Pakistan’s vaccination efforts. This case marks the first in Punjab this year and the 12th nationwide, with two cases in Sindh and nine in Balochistan.
An investigation into the National Institute of Public Health’s (NIH) data reveals a concerning trend. Despite administering over 300 million doses of the oral vaccine annually since 1994, polio remains endemic in Pakistan. The NIH’s own testing confirmed the presence of polio virus in 12 sewage samples from eight cities across the country in April, including Karachi, Quetta, and Peshawar.
This raises questions about the vaccination program’s reach and impact. Are the vaccines being administered effectively? Are enough children being targeted? And what role do social and cultural factors play in the persistence of polio in Pakistan?
Furthermore, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) classification of Pakistan and Afghanistan as the only two countries where polio remains endemic suggests a deeper issue. What is being done to address the root causes of polio’s persistence, and what more can be done to finally eradicate this highly contagious and debilitating disease?
As authorities claim to be in the final stages of eradicating polio, a closer examination of the facts reveals a more complex and concerning reality. It’s time to take a harder look at Pakistan’s polio problem and demand answers.
