A stubborn virus

The worst feeling in the world is to witness the pain of children suffering from a lifelong medical condition that could have been avoided had the child received the crucial vaccine. This is the story of Pakistan’s children who are still living under the threat of the polio virus. The year is barely half-gone and already the nation has recorded eight cases of the wild poliovirus. The two latest cases are from Karachi’s Keamari district and Killa Abdullah in Balochistan, with both children being affected by the Wild Poliovirus 1 (WPV1). This is concerning, especially when we consider the number of polio cases that surfaced last year. In 2023, the number stood at six, and this year, which has six months left, we have already passed last year’s tally. This year, there have already been six cases in Balochistan alone and the other two are from Sindh. Environmental sampling routinely indicates the presence of the virus in different parts of the country, and yet there has not been any significant action towards tackling the problem. Pakistan is one of the two countries where polio is still endemic. The unfortunate truth is that the country did manage to eradicate polio some years back. However, the lack of care shown towards maintaining the now-lost status has led to a situation where the polio keeps reappearing now and then.

According to reports, parental refusal of the vaccine has reached a record high, with official sources claiming that thousands of parents across Pakistan refused to get their children vaccinated during the last vaccination campaign. This proves, yet again, that anti-vaccine misinformation and propaganda continue to be one of the most formidable barriers to polio eradication and one the government is struggling to deal with. One must also note that the polio problem, after seeming like it was solved, reemerged during and after the PTI government, hinting at the Imran Khan administration’s mishandling of a top public health priority. Arguably, the rapid spread of anti-vaccine fake news and lies experienced during the Covid era may have played an even more consequential role. The nation went from just nine cases in 2021 to 20 the next year. With a polio vaccination drive set to kick off today, aiming to vaccinate more than 9.5 million children in 41 districts, the authorities must see how an atmosphere of anti-vaccine myths undermines such campaigns while also putting polio workers and law enforcement in danger.

The government must also realize that even one child is one too many. The lifelong disabilities they suffer from create many obstacles for them. In a country where infrastructure is not inclusive, these children remain confined to their homes, missing out on the opportunities that life has to offer. Over the years, the government has taken several steps to fight against the virus. This week, PM Shehbaz Sharif also met with Bill Gates and reiterated his government’s resolve to wipe out the virus. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s involvement in Pakistan’s polio programme is also encouraging, indicating that the government has the right kind of support. But this does not end here. What the government has been ignoring for years now is myths and conspiracy theories surrounding the polio eradication programme. We have seen far too many cases where negligence at public hospitals has created difficulties for people. As the government loses its trust among people -- and subsequently does nothing to compensate for the losses -- it makes people even more stubborn. To change the rigid mindset, the government has to come up with different approaches. At the time of birth, parents should be given information about the importance of vaccines. Authorities should also approach religious scholars and elders in local communities to explain the benefits of regular vaccination. Schools can also be taken on board where children in lower grades can be given small gifts if they show their vaccination certificates. All the government has been doing – door-to-door campaigns and kiosks at airports and malls – is commendable, but more needs to be done if we are to eradicate this stubborn virus from the country.