Poliovirus spreads to 71 districts, says PM’s focal person

ISLAMABAD: Four children have lost their lives out of 39 affected by polio, while majority of remaining children has paralysed for rest of their lives.

This was stated by Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq Monday. She urged parents to vaccinate their children during upcoming polio vaccination drives.

“Poliovirus is not only paralysing our children, it is also killing some of the weaker ones. So far, four children affected by poliovirus have died, while others have been crippled for life”, she said. She emphasised vaccination is crucial to protect children from potentially deadly disease.

Speaking at a Media Engagement Session held at National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), Ms Farooq discussed challenges facing Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts, and highlighted critical role of media in promoting vaccine acceptance.

The session was attended by NEOC Coordinator Anwarul Haq, CDC Consultant Dr Rana Muhammad Safdar and other key figures, including Unicef’s polio communication team.

Ms Farooq revealed spread of poliovirus, initially came through cross-border transmission last year, has now reached 71 districts. This poses a severe threat to children’s well-being across the country, she said.

The challenge has been further exacerbated by unusual population movement patterns following the government’s decision to repatriate unregistered foreigners. Many families have gone into hiding, leaving a significant number of children unvaccinated. It has created a cohort of population capable of sustaining transmission, she said.

Another major hurdle in the fight against polio is security situation in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, where polio campaigns are frequently disrupted.

She pointed out these interruptions leave thousands of children unvaccinated in high-risk districts. The complex security environment in these regions continues to affect efforts to reach children, leading to campaign postponements and missed vaccinations, she said.

A growing issue, particularly in KP and Balochistan, is demands-based refusals. Communities in these areas often boycott polio vaccination campaigns to demand other services from the government.

This tactic, according to Ms Farooq, has led to a large number of children being left unvaccinated, complicating the eradication efforts further.

Ms Farooq cited low routine vaccination rates as a persistent problem in Pakistan. “Children with reduced immunity are more susceptible to polio infection, and this continues to be a major challenge for us”, she said.

Misconceptions and anti-vaccine propaganda, which fuel refusals, are additional hurdles that threaten to derail the government’s progress in eradicating the disease.

Despite these challenges, she emphasised government’s commitment to polio eradication. A consensus roadmap, aiming to interrupt poliovirus transmission by mid-2025, is being implemented nationwide, she informed.

Ms Farooq lauded media support for Polio Programme, stressing the need for continued collaboration to combat misinformation. The media has been a great ally of Polio Programmem she said, adding its role remains essential in shaping public perception and ensuring accurate information is disseminated.

She emphasised need for media outlets at national level to create a positive environment for vaccine acceptance, promote good hygiene practices and address misconceptions surrounding the polio vaccine. “In the age of digital media, misinformation is a real challenge. It causes parents to refuse vaccine or hide their children from vaccinators”, she said.

Coordinator of NEOC, Anwarul Haq, echoed Ms Farooq’s concerns, outlining key challenges the Programme faces, including vaccine hesitancy, population movement and security concerns. “Surveillance has been enhanced to track the virus. We anticipate more cases in coming months, as the virus continues to be detected in the environment”, Haq said.

He detailed government’s 2-4-6 roadmap, a strategic plan developed in collaboration with provincial authorities. “We are implementing multiple high-quality vaccination campaigns and outbreak responses, while improving routine immunisation and addressing vaccine hesitancy”, he said. Two more polio vaccination campaigns are planned before the end December to boost children’s immunity, he added.

Haq reiterated the support of journalists is crucial for success of upcoming campaigns. “With the media’s help, we can create conducive environment for vaccination and build community trust”, he said. The government, with full support of law enforcement agencies, is committed to ensuring safety of polio workers in vulnerable regions, he asserted.

The session underscored collaboration between media and Polio Programme to ensure importance of vaccination is effectively communicated to the public. Journalists were encouraged to play role in promoting accurate narratives and countering damaging myths that continue to hinder Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts.