Polio continues to plague KP despite deaths of 109 workers and cops

PESHAWAR: Despite 109 deaths of polio workers and police officials in the last 12 years, polio could not be eradicated from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Around 13 workers were kidnapped and 162 injured during this period in polio campaigns.

A 5-day anti-polio campaign started on Monday in 13 high-risk districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. More than 21,000 teams have been given the target of administering polio drops to 4,423,000 children under five years of age in these districts. More than 32,000 police personnel are protecting the polio teams.

According to yearly official statistics, two cases of polio have been reported in Pakistan so far this year 2024 and these two cases have been reported from Balochistan. So far, 5 people have died while 22 others were injured in KP during polio campaigns.

Only five cases were reported across Pakistan in 2023, in which 4 cases of polio were reported from former FATA and one case of polio was reported from Sindh province. Some 7 people were killed and 13 others injured in attacks on officials, including a female polio worker, while 5 officials were kidnapped in that year.

During the year 2022, a total of 20 polio cases were reported across Pakistan, including 2 cases in KP and 18 polio cases in the former FATA. Some 10 people, including 2 women, were killed and 12 others were injured in attacks on polio teams in South Waziristan, Kohat, Bajaur, Dera Ismail Khan, Peshawar, Khyber, North Waziristan, and Tank. A polio official was kidnapped.

Only one case of polio was reported across Pakistan in 2021, which came from Balochistan province. However, 12 people were killed and 17 others were injured, including 3 women. Similarly, a polio official was also kidnapped.

In 2020, a total of 84 polio cases were reported in Pakistan, including 20 cases in KP, 2 in former FATA, 22 in Sindh, 26 in Balochistan and 14 polio cases in Punjab province. However, 6 people including 3 women died and 12 others were injured.

A total of 147 polio cases were reported across Pakistan in 2019, including 80 in KP, 13 in former FATA, 30 in Sindh, 12 in Balochistan and 12 polio cases in Punjab. Similarly, 10 people were killed and 5 others were injured, including 3 women in Bannu, Swabi, Peshawar, Kurram, Khyber and Lower Dir districts, while one polio official was abducted.

During the year 2018, a total of 12 cases of polio were reported across Pakistan, including 2 cases in KP, 6 cases in former FATA, one case in Sindh province and one case in Balochistan. Polio cases were reported in Tank, Peshawar, and Charsadda. The teams were targeted and one polio worker was killed and 2 others were injured.

In 2017, 8 polio cases were reported, including one case in KP, 2 cases in Sindh province, 3 in Balochistan, one in Gilgit-Baltistan and one in Punjab. Polio teams and police officers were targeted in which 6 officers including a woman were killed while 5 others were injured. One officer was kidnapped this year.

Similarly, 20 cases of polio were reported across Pakistan in 2016, including 8 cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 2 in former FATA and 8 in Sindh. Some 13 people were killed and 21 others were injured in attacks on polio teams. 4 women and 3 polio workers were abducted that year.

During the year 2015, a total of 54 cases of polio were reported across Pakistan, 17 cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 16 in former FATA, 12 in Sindh, 7 in Balochistan and 2 cases in Punjab. Some 5 people, including 3 women polio workers, were killed and 7 others were injured in attacks on teams.

A total of 306 cases of polio were reported in Pakistan in 2014, the highest number of 179 cases in former FATA, 68 in KP, 30 cases in Sindh, 22 in Balochistan and 7 cases in Punjab. Some 17 people were killed and 18 others were injured in the districts of Buner, Charsadda, Dera Ismail Khan, Mansehra, Tank and Peshawar.

A total of 93 cases of polio were reported across Pakistan in 2013, including 11 cases in KP, 65 in former FATA, 10 in Sindh, and 2 cases in Punjab. There was also an increase in deadly attacks on polio teams. Some 13 people including 4 women died and 27 others were injured in Peshawar, Swabi, Mardan, Tank, and Hangu districts.