The nationwide anti-polio campaign has officially begun in Pakistan, with Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal inaugurating the drive by administering polio drops to children in Islamabad. He stated that the campaign has been launched simultaneously in both Pakistan and Afghanistan and will conclude at the same time in both countries.
According to the health minister, polio virus testing was conducted in 89 districts across the country, and the virus was found present in 50 of them. In Karachi, the virus was detected in 11 out of 12 environmental sampling sites. Currently, there are 10 confirmed polio cases in the country; however, the number could have been in the thousands had the vaccination efforts not been in place.
Minister Kamal strongly criticized parents who refuse to vaccinate their children, emphasizing that while cancer has a cure, polio does not. He urged parents to take responsibility for the health and future of their children, asserting that polio is not a political issue, but a matter of public health and the well-being of future generations.
He further shared that the ongoing campaign aims to vaccinate 45.8 million children across Pakistan. In Afghanistan, the campaign is also being carried out door-to-door, except in Kandahar, where children are brought to local mosques for vaccination. The minister stressed that both Pakistan and Afghanistan must become polio-free together, warning that Pakistan may be left behind if Afghanistan succeeds alone.
The health minister revealed that 5 polio cases have emerged from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 4 from Sindh, and 1 from Punjab. Last year, 63,000 children missed their polio vaccinations. He warned that parents who refuse the drops will bear responsibility for the consequences if their children are paralyzed. However, he clarified that no legal action would be taken against such parents; instead, efforts will be made to engage with them and raise awareness through dialogue.
