Considering the restricted success of various strategies to eradicate polio and the rising number of infected children in the country few, if any, should be surprised at the World Health Organisation’s travel restriction recommendation on Pakistanis.

While the WHO cannot impose travel restrictions itself, based on it's recommendation, countries around the world can make travelling abroad for Pakistanis a more difficult task than it already is.

There are questions that need to be answered in the wake of these recommendations, such as, what do these travel restrictions mean? How is Pakistan to remove itself from yet another blacklist? When would that likely occur?

The restriction recommends that Pakistanis wanting to travel outside the country provide a certification issued by the health department, stating they have been administered anti-polio vaccine. The exact process to acquire the certification is still in the works, according to officials from WHO.

The Emergency Coordinator for polio eradication in Pakistan, Dr Elias Durry explains the two-part criteria Pakistan needs to meet:

The recommendation, which is supposed to be implemented as soon as possible, includes a certification, prior to travel. It will also include stringent efforts to access children in areas which were previously restricted.

Additionally, Pakistan is informally labelled as an ‘exporter of polio’ when strains of the virus originating from the country were found in China, Syria, Egypt, Israel and Palestine.

“There needs to be no more import/export of polio virus for at least six months,” Durry explains.

Access to children who are often not included in the campaign either due to geographical restrictions or families refusing to get them immunised should be the central focus on the efforts, Durry advises.


Also read: Pakistan on crutches


“People need to understand that most of Pakistan is polio-free. Attention needs to be given to Fata, parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and some areas of Karachi which remain infected,” the health expert says, adding,

If success is achieved in these areas, Pakistan is very close to eradicating polio.

The health organisation will evaluate the situation in three months and then again in six months, at which point the imposition of travel restrictions will be reviewed, depending on Pakistan's progress.


Also read: Paralysing Pakistan


Pakistan is one of three countries where polio is endemic, joined by Nigeria and Afghanistan. Both the other countries have, however, exhibited marked improvement in their efforts to eradicate the crippling virus.

Pakistan, in particular continues to fight the battle against polio on various fronts including: the security situation, family refusals, access to far-flung areas and an ineffective cold chain management, risking thousands of children to a life of permanent paralysis.

Opinion

Editorial

Ill omens
Updated 12 Feb, 2025

Ill omens

One wonders whether institutional leadership realises the long-term ramifications of the ongoing "remaking" of judiciary.
Sunken dreams
12 Feb, 2025

Sunken dreams

ANOTHER tragedy has struck Pakistani migrants seeking a better future. A boat capsizing off the Libyan coast has ...
Hate in India
12 Feb, 2025

Hate in India

HISTORY shows that rulers use hate speech to provoke hate crimes and ‘othering’ among communities. Indian Prime...
IMF scrutiny
Updated 11 Feb, 2025

IMF scrutiny

Strengthening foundations of the economic superstructure will help make the economy competitive and boost growth.
Shadow voices
11 Feb, 2025

Shadow voices

OVER the weekend, another ‘open letter’ addressed to the army chief and attributed to former prime minister ...
Paradise at a premium
11 Feb, 2025

Paradise at a premium

PAKISTAN’S recent triumph at the New York Travel and Adventure Show 2025, winning the Best Partner Pavilion Award,...