PAKISTAN has long struggled with the shadow of polio, a crippling virus that continues to threaten the future of our children. Despite years of concerted efforts and progress in reducing polio cases, the emergence of new cases this should raise the alarm bells. As of Wednesday, a fresh polio case was confirmed in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, bringing the total number of cases to 56 for the year. This is a troubling development, as the country grapples with an “intense resurgence” of wild poliovirus, particularly in regions that have historically been polio-endemic.
This latest case is particularly alarming because it marks the seventh confirmed polio case in DI Khan, a district that has seen a consistent pattern of infections in recent years. It is undeniable that we have made significant strides in the battle against polio. In recent years, vaccination campaigns reached millions of children and the number of reported cases had steadily declined. However, the worrying increase in cases this year—especially in the provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa—underscores a clear and urgent need for a reassessment of the current strategy. The virus continues to thrive in parts of the country where security issues, vaccine hesitancy and misinformation remain significant barriers to immunization. What is clear from the latest figures is that we cannot afford to be complacent. The NEOC has rightly emphasized the importance of continued vaccination. However, there is a critical need for a mass awareness campaign to counter the misinformation and vaccine reluctance that still exist. Parents must be reminded that polio remains a real and present danger and that vaccinating children under five is the only way to prevent further outbreaks. This is not a task that can be left to the government alone. Every segment of society has a responsibility to join this fight. Local communities, religious leaders, healthcare workers and the media must work together to educate the public about the importance of vaccination. The time to act is now. The future of our children depends on it.
