Pakistan to launch nationwide anti-polio campaign on Monday

A health worker administers polio vaccine drops to a child during a vaccination campaign in Peshawar, Pakistan on May 22, 2023. (AFP/File)

• The vaccination drive is aimed at inoculating more than 42 million children in 159 districts across the South Asian country 
• Pakistan, Afghanistan are only two countries in world where polio continues to threaten health and well-being of children 

ISLAMABAD: Authorities will kick off a nationwide anti-polio drive of varied duration across Pakistan on Monday to inoculate more than 42 million children aged five or below, Pakistani state media reported.
Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by poliovirus, mainly affecting children under the age of ten years. It invades the nervous system, and can cause paralysis or even death.
During the campaign starting on Monday, polio teams constituted by federal and provincial health departments will go door to door in all 159 districts of the country, the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“In Punjab, during a week-long polio campaign over 23 million children will be administered polio drops,” the report read, citing health authorities. “In Sindh, nearly 10.03 million children up to the five years of age will be administered with anti-polio vaccine drops during a week-long campaign.”
During a five-day drive in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, more than 7.4 million children up to the age of five would be administered the vaccine, while 2.5 million children would be inoculated in Balochistan in a week-long campaign, according to the report.
“In Gilgit-Baltistan, over 250,000 children will be vaccinated during a five-day campaign,” the broadcaster reported.
Parents may contact health authorities on helpline 1166 in case an anti-polio vaccination team fails to visit their home.
Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world where polio continues to threaten the health and well-being of children.