Jacobabad has reported its fourth polio case this year, highlighting the ongoing challenges in Pakistan’s fight against the debilitating disease. This comes amidst a sharp rise in wild poliovirus type 1 cases across the country.
Polio Resurgence in 2024
According to the Pakistan Polio Eradication Program, a total of 64 cases have been recorded in 2024, distributed across key regions:
- Balochistan: 26 cases
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 18 cases
- Sindh: 18 cases (including Jacobabad)
- Punjab: 1 case
- Islamabad: 1 case
This resurgence marks a worrying trend compared to previous years. Only 6 cases were reported in 2023 and just 1 in 2021.
Urgent Vaccination Drive
In response, Pakistan has launched a nationwide anti-polio campaign to vaccinate 44 million children across 143 districts. The campaign runs until December 22 and aims to boost immunity in children under the age of five, the group most vulnerable to polio.
The polio program stressed:
“It is crucial for parents to ensure vaccination for all their children under the age of five to keep them protected.”
Challenges to Eradication Efforts
Despite significant progress over the decades, Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts face several obstacles:
- Militant Attacks: Health workers have been targeted during vaccination drives.
- Misinformation: Myths spread by extremists and conservative clerics discourage some communities from vaccinating their children.
- Access Issues: Remote and conflict-affected areas are hard to reach.
Global Context
Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan remain the only two polio-endemic countries in the world. In the 1990s, Pakistan reported 20,000 cases annually, but intensive efforts reduced this to single digits in recent years.
Call to Action
Health officials emphasize that multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completion of the full vaccination schedule are essential to protect children and achieve global polio eradication.