Another Polio case, the third of this year, has unfortunately and tragically affected a twelve year old girl in Balochistan’s Killa Abdullah district, thus underscoring an urgent need for a renewed and intensified effort to eradicate Polio from our country once and for all.
In recent years, we had made commendable strides in the fight against Polio. The gains achieved up to 2021 gave us hope that the end of Polio was in sight. However, the resurgence of cases and detection of virus in environmental samples in key regions, including Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar serve as a stark reminder that our battle is far from over. This situation calls for immediate and decisive action. The upcoming anti-Polio campaigns must ensure that no child is missed. The effectiveness of these campaigns hinges on meticulous planning and execution. Moreover, a large-scale awareness campaign is essential to educate public about efficacy and necessity of Polio vaccinations. Misinformation and vaccine hesitancy have been significant barriers in the past. It is crucial that we engage every segment of society from community leaders and health workers to parents and educators in spreading the message that Polio drops are safe and vital for protecting our children. Polio is a preventable disease, and no child should have to suffer its devastating consequences. We owe it to the future generations to eradicate this scourge once and for all.
