A fresh case of polio has been reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where a 20-month-old girl from Tank district has tested positive, health officials confirmed on Monday.
This brings the total number of polio cases in the province to 16 this year, while the nationwide tally has reached 24.
Rising polio cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Officials have once again appealed to parents to cooperate with polio teams during ongoing and upcoming campaigns to ensure every child is protected from the crippling disease.
Nationwide anti-polio campaign underway
A phased anti-polio campaign has already begun in 99 districts across Pakistan, with over 28 million children set to receive polio drops. More than 240,000 frontline workers are part of this nationwide drive.
The NEOC said:
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In Punjab, over 4.1 million children in seven districts will be administered polio drops.
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In Islamabad, over 450,000 children will be vaccinated.
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In Sindh, more than 8.9 million children in 25 districts will receive polio protection.
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In Balochistan, 2.1 million children across 26 districts are being targeted.
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In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, over 5.7 million children across 27 districts will be covered.
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Children in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan will also be vaccinated in two districts each.
Campaign challenges
The campaign faced delays in nine flood-hit districts of Punjab, while southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is scheduled to begin vaccinations from September 15. Despite these challenges, health officials reaffirm that Pakistan remains committed to eradicating polio.
Call for cooperation
Authorities stressed that parents’ cooperation is vital to safeguard children from lifelong disabilities. “Polio is preventable through timely vaccination. Every child must be reached,” the NEOC stated.
