Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has launched a major anti-polio campaign to combat the rise in polio cases in Pakistan. The campaign, which runs from September 9 to 15, aims to vaccinate 30 million children under five years old across 115 districts.
About 286,000 polio workers will be going door-to-door to administer polio drops. During the launch, PM Shehbaz emphasized the importance of this effort and expressed gratitude to international partners for their support.
The Prime Minister personally administered polio drops to children at the launch event and urged all parents to ensure their children receive the vaccine to prevent lifelong disability.
The campaign comes as Pakistan reports 17 polio cases in 2024, including a recent case in Islamabad, marking the first in 16 years. Polio, a highly infectious disease, mainly affects young children and can cause paralysis or death. Vaccination is the most effective protection against this disease.
Despite significant efforts to eradicate polio, Pakistan remains one of the last two polio-endemic countries in the world, alongside Afghanistan. However, the number of cases has decreased considerably over the years.