Pakistan has launched its final nationwide polio eradication drive for 2024, aiming to immunize 44 million children under five. This effort comes after a concerning rise in polio cases, with 63 reported this year.
The campaign, which started on December 16, deploys 400,000 workers across 143 districts to administer the oral polio vaccine. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other government officials have supported the initiative.
Health workers urge parents to cooperate and ensure their children receive the vaccine. Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, emphasizes that repeated immunization is key to strengthening children’s immunity.
Pakistan and Afghanistan are the last two polio-endemic countries in the world. Despite progress, the surge in cases, particularly in Balochistan with 26 reported cases, highlights the need for continued efforts.
The Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme has been working since 1994 to eliminate the disease. With help from international partners like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the World Health Organization, Pakistan remains committed to protecting its children from polio.
