THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children under the age of five. This latest campaign stretches across various districts — 10 in Punjab, 24 in Sindh, 26 in KP, and 30 in Balochistan. Despite concerted efforts, Pakistan, along with Afghanistan, remains one of only two countries, where polio is still endemic. This year, in March, two new polio cases emerged from Balochistan within a mere two days, marking the end of the province’s polio-free status since 2021. This resurgence is evidence of the tenacity of the disease and of the hurdles Pakistan continues to face in combating it. The threats are manifold: extremist groups targeting polio workers under the false belief that vaccination drives are foreign conspiracies, parental refusal of vaccines, and the constant movement of populations across the porous Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Recently, the coordinator to the prime minister on National Health Services advocated for a results-oriented dialogue with Afghanistan on polio, given this migration of unvaccinated populations facilitating the virus’s spread.

However, achieving a polio-free Pakistan requires more than cross-border cooperation. It necessitates an approach that addresses both vaccination resistance and virus transmission. First, we must ensure the safety of our polio workers. These front-line heroes face significant risks, and their protection is essential for the continuity of immunisation drives. Second, addressing vaccine hesitancy through education campaigns is crucial. Misinformation and distrust have led to a high rate of vaccine refusal, even among well-educated families from Karachi, research has revealed. Overcoming this requires tailored communication strategies that resonate with various demographic groups. Moreover, enhanced surveillance must be implemented to promptly detect and contain virus outbreaks. Poliovirus has been detected in multiple sewage samples across the country, signalling environmental contamination and potential for new infections. While Pakistan’s efforts in polio eradication have seen significant progress, the road ahead is riddled with difficulties. The people must be made to understand that polio is a life-changing disease and can only be prevented with vaccines. Hence, ensuring that every child receives the polio vaccine is the only pathway to a polio-free future.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2024