The Ministry of Health has urged parents to get their children vaccinate against polio after four new cases were reported, increasing fears of an outbreak of the crippling disease.
Health authorities have warn that the poliovirus is spreading rapidly across Pakistan, putting children’s health at risk. According to reports, as many as 32 polio cases have been confirmed this year, sparking fears of a nationwide health crisis.
Health authorities believe that many more children might be carrying the virus. Ayesha Raza Farooq, the prime minister’s focal person for polio eradication, said in a statement that the new cases should serve as a wake-up call for parents, especially those who had earlier refused to get their children vaccinated against polio.
Explaining how serious the situation is, she said that every confirmed polio case could mean that hundreds more children are silently affected and spreading the virus without knowing. She showed concern over the consequences that the children would have to face in case their parents deliberately make them miss their vaccinations due to misinformation and baseless fears surrounding the vaccine.
Reminding parents of their duty to protect their children, she implored them to reason and ensure that the children are vaccinated during the upcoming national polio campaign, which is set to begin on October 28. The campaign aims to vaccinate more than 45 million children nationwide.
The National Institute of Health has confirmed the presence of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in two children from Jacobabad, and one child each from Karachi’s Malir district and Dera Ismail Khan. Anwarul Haq, coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Center for Polio Eradication, reports that sewage samples from these districts also tested positive for the virus, indicating widespread transmission.
Anwarul Haq assured that his team is fully mobilized, working with provincial authorities to investigate cases, prepare for vaccination drives, and offer the best health services to protect children in high-risk areas. “There is no cure for polio,” he reminds parents, adding that paralysis caused by the virus is irreversible.
In addition to the national polio campaign, a separate catch-up initiative is also underway in targeted districts to ensure that children who missed vaccinations in the past, or haven’t completed their immunization schedules, are protected against 12 preventable diseases, including polio.
Health officials are calling on parents, teachers, and community leaders to recognize their shared responsibility in ensuring that all children under the age of five years receive complete vaccinations.