THE failure of both state and society to recognise a crisis requiring urgent attention is astounding. It has been nearly a decade now since reservations started pouring in regarding the administration of the polio vaccine. Since then, resistance to the vaccine has grown exponentially — the trend has gone from a passive refusal to allow the administration of the vaccine to active resistance and aggression. Meanwhile, the incidence of polio within the country has been on the increase; in fact, there is alarming evidence that we are exporting it. The Pakistani strain of the virus has been detected in Asia and Africa, and just recently, medical experts warned that it could threaten Europe. It is little wonder, then, that India — which was recently declared polio-free — acted on Thursday on a recommendation first proposed in 2011 by the Independent Monitoring Board for Polio Eradication: after Jan 30, 2014, those travelling to India from Pakistan and other polio-endemic countries (Afghanistan and Nigeria) will be required to show proof of recent vaccination.

It is unfortunate indeed that matters have come to such a pass, and the possibility cannot be ruled out that other countries may follow suit. While the world, India in particular, must be urged to be patient — for such restrictions will affect a great number of people — the fact remains that it is imperative that Pakistan start putting its house in order in terms of countering the polio threat. While the danger has intensified, the state and its leaders have looked the other way. Though validation for the vaccine has started trickling in — Maulana Samiul Haq of the Darul Uloom Haqqania announced his backing for the vaccine a few days ago — much more is needed. The much vaunted ‘national interest’ that forms the backbone of the bulk of our leaders’ rhetoric cannot be better served than by ensuring that future generations are not stalked by polio, and Pakistan is not a pariah amidst the comity of nations for failing to control the crippling virus.