ISLAMABAD: The current humanitarian crisis in the country has affected at least 16 million children. In these times, it is more crucial than ever to protect them from the risk of lifelong paralysis caused by polio.

This was pointed out by Minister for National Health Services (NHS) Abdul Qadir Patel in the capital. Partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and Donors met in Islamabad to assess the needs of the Pakistan Polio Programme and discuss the path forward to prevent the disease from spreading further.

Representatives from donor countries reaffirmed their commitment and said it was because of years of support to global polio eradication efforts that the world is now over 99pc polio-free. More efforts need to be made for Pakistan and Afghanistan to make the final push and eliminate the disease from the world.

This year, polio endemic countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan, have had 22 children paralysed by wild polio. In Pakistan, 17 polio cases have been reported from North Waziristan alone, with the last case reportedly being a 10-month boy as per the National Institute of Health.

“Despite the number of wild poliovirus cases in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the programme has managed to protect children from polio in other parts of the country. This highlights the strength of the programme that needs more support as they revise strategies and reach displaced populations in the wake of the floods,” Mr Patel added.

“With over 33 million people affected by the floods and such large-scale displacement, we expect wild poliovirus transmission to spread,” said Dr Shahzad Baig, adding: “It is crucial to support polio eradication at this point and interrupt transmission.”

The polio programme is contributing to flood relief efforts as health camps have been set up in calamity-hit districts that offer basic clinical services and routine immunisation antigens for children and pregnant women.

Meanwhile, Mr Patel, during a meeting with Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Chairman Sardar Shahid Ahmed Leghari said that humanitarian services rendered by PRCS in the flood-hit areas were highly commendable as people were in dire need of food, shelter and rehabilitation and the government looks forward to the support of international organisations in mitigating the sufferings of distressed people in flood-hit areas of Pakistan.

The minister stressed upon developing cohesive strategies and plans for providing health and care services to the flood victims suffering from water-borne diseases and especially for pregnant women who are in dire need of health and care support.

Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2022