Today, World Polio Day was observed in several countries to raise awareness regarding the viral disease.

Unfortunately, polio still hasn't been eradicated from our country. Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only two countries where this crippling disease is still endemic. The life-threatening disease is caused by poliovirus which spreads from person to person and can infect a person's spinal cord, causing severe paralysis and in severe cases can even lead to death due to respiratory muscle paralysis.

Last month, the polio vaccination campaign was resumed in Pakistan after more than four-month suspension post-COVID. Over 40 million children below five years are targeted by the government to be vaccinated during the campaign.

According to the statistics provided by Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, these are the region-wise polio figures for the last three years of Pakistan: 

PROVINCE-2018-2019-2020 PUNJAB-0-12-12 SINDH-1-30-22 KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA-8-93-22 BALOCHISTAN-3-12-23 GILGIT-BALTISTAN-0-0-0 AZAD JAMMU & KASHMIR-0-0-0 ICT-0-0-0 TOTAL POLIO CASES-12-147-79 

Polio eradication is possible only if the public cooperates with the government authorities fully. For this purpose, massive anti-polio campaigns need to be launched regularly. Fake news, conspiracy theories regarding the polio vaccine must be ignored by the public.

Our health workers, vaccination teams are doing heroic work reaching people in far-flung areas. They must be appreciated and provided with proper gear and ample resources especially during the ongoing pandemic. If Africa can eradicate polio so can we.