The polio threat

Pakistan’s battle against polio is at a critical juncture. The detection of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in environmental samples across eight districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, coupled with the confirmation of 63 polio cases nationwide this year, paints a devastating picture and highlights the dire need for immediate, sustained, and coordinated action to protect the country’s children from a crippling disease that should have been eradicated long ago. The situation in KP is particularly alarming. The virus has now reached Charsadda, a district previously free of poliovirus, indicating its relentless transmission. Environmental samples from seven other districts in the province have tested positive for WPV1. Nationally, the infection of 63 children, with a significant portion hailing from Balochistan (26 cases) and KP (18 cases), underscores the widespread prevalence of the virus. The current resurgence is a tragic setback for a country that once stood on the brink of eradicating polio. With this recent polio outbreak, the gaps in Pakistan’s healthcare infrastructure have become glaringly evident. Weak vaccination coverage, compounded by misinformation, lack of awareness, and challenges in reaching high-risk areas, has left millions of children vulnerable to the virus.

The government’s response, while necessary, must go beyond rhetoric. The establishment of a high-level committee to bridge coordination between the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) and the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) is a step in the right direction. However, committees alone will not eradicate polio. Effective implementation of vaccination drives, robust monitoring mechanisms, and addressing challenges in vaccine delivery, particularly in high-risk and inaccessible areas, are paramount. The mass vaccination campaign that starts today is a critical opportunity. More than 44 million children under five will be targeted across 143 districts, with 23.3 million children in Punjab alone. The deployment of over 200,000 workers for this campaign reflects the scale of the effort required. However, success hinges on the quality of the campaign. Provincial and district health authorities must ensure that no child is left unvaccinated, particularly in high-risk areas and inter-provincial boundary regions where mobile and migrant populations pose unique challenges. Accountability and continuous monitoring must remain at the forefront but what is most important is community engagement. Parents must be encouraged and educated about the life-saving benefits of the polio vaccine, and local leaders should be enlisted to counter vaccine hesitancy.

The stakes could not be higher. Polio is literally a matter of life and death, about the future of this country. Pakistan remains one of only two countries where polio is still endemic, and every missed opportunity to vaccinate a child brings the country closer to more outbreaks. Our fight against polio is an ongoing challenge and needs a whole-of-state-and-society approach to ensure that this crippling disease does not claim another generation of children. We need to win this battle.