akistan’s fight against polio is far from over. Despite years of vaccination efforts, the country is still struggling to eliminate the disease by overcoming widespread misinformation, lack of awareness and resistance from some communities.

In this challenging environment, lady health workers (LHWs) have become the backbone of the polio eradication campaign, especially in Sindh. These women work tirelessly, often in difficult circumstances, to ensure that every child under the age of five is vaccinated.

In Hyderabad, where the polio campaign ended on December 22, 79,123 children were vaccinated. Dr Jamshed, the district focal person for polio campaign, said that the total population of the city was 2.6 million. “The city is divided into 163 union councils. The number of children under five is 0.4 million and of those under 15 1 million,” he said.

“For this campaign, we set up 84 EPI centres in the district and engaged 907 lady health workers. To ensure that no children were missed, we constituted 1,550 mobile teams, 85 transit teams and notified 387 area in-charges,” said the doctor.

As per the report of the district focal person, 83 per cent of the target was achieved in the recent campaign. “The number of refusal cases initially stood at 4,444. We tried to cover all the refusal cases by sensitising people to the importance of polio vaccine. This way, we brought the number down to 3,900,” said Dr Jamshed.

The challenges polio teams face are immense. Misinformation about the vaccine is a major issue. Many parents believe unfounded rumors about its effects. Some parents refuse to vaccinate their children, fearing that the vaccine might harm them. Others accuse health workers of promoting foreign agendas. These false beliefs make the job of LHWs even harder.

“Sometimes people shout at us or refuse to let us enter their homes,” said a health worker from Hyderabad. “But we don’t give up because we know we’re helping protect their children from a deadly disease.”

Lady health workers are the unsung heroes of Pakistan’s fight against polio. Many of them continue to work despite delayed salaries, verbal abuse and harsh conditions. Their dedication deserves recognition and support. These workers are making a significant difference in the fight to eliminate polio from Pakistan.

In addition to dealing with resistance, these women endure tough working conditions. Many walk for hours in extreme heat or cold, often without access to drinking water. They frequently travel through narrow lanes and crowded streets, reaching families who are sometimes located far from the nearest health facilities. Despite these difficulties, they remain committed to their mission.

The recent campaign were launched in the months of September, November and December. The district administration in Hyderabad played an important role in supporting these efforts. Regular training sessions were held to prepare workers for challenges in the field, security personnel were deployed with vaccination teams in areas where health workers faced threats. Supervisors monitored their progress daily, ensuring that no child was missed. Tthe district administration ensured that these workers had the resources they needed to carry out their tasks, including mobile teams equipped with necessary tools for vaccination.

However, the success of this campaign depends on more than just the efforts of LHWs and the administration. Communities also need to step up and cooperate. While some families welcome the workers, others refuse to listen to them. In such cases, endorsement by religious leaders and community elders has proven effective in addressing concerns and building trust. These leaders have encouraged parents to vaccinate their children, explaining that protecting the children from preventable harm is a religious and social responsibility.

Lady health workers are the unsung heroes of Pakistan’s fight against polio. Many of them continue their work despite delayed salaries, verbal abuse and harsh conditions. Their dedication deserves recognition and support. These workers are making a significant difference in the fight to eliminate polio from Pakistan.

According to the Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative, the number of polio cases dropped from 306 in 2014 to just 20 in 2022. This progress is a testament to the hard work of the lady health workers, the district administration and the support from communities across the country.

Everyone must play their part to eradicate polio. Families must trust the science behind vaccines, and the society must support the workers who are tirelessly working for the future of Pakistan’s children. Lady health workers are not just administering vaccine drops, they are safeguarding a healthier tomorrow for all. Their work is crucial in ensuring that the children are healthy.

The writer is a freelance journalist. He can be reached on Twitter @Nabeell_Abro