By Mehrab Shah Afridi
ISLAMABAD: Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, the First Lady and a member of the National Assembly, appealed to parents, caregivers, community leaders and local authorities to fully support the final nationwide polio vaccination campaign of 2025, calling it a decisive moment in Pakistan’s long fight against the virus.
Speaking as the campaign began from 15 to 21 December, Bhutto Zardari said the goal of achieving 100% vaccination coverage was both urgent and achievable, provided families ensured that every child under the age of five received the drops. She described the drive as the culmination of years of sustained effort, sacrifice and persistence by health workers and communities across the country.
Despite significant progress, Pakistan remained among the few countries where polio had not been fully eradicated. Sporadic cases continued to emerge, particularly in remote, underserved and conflict-affected areas, underscoring the fragility of recent gains. Bhutto Zardari warned that any lapse in coverage could reverse hard-won progress and prolong the suffering caused by a disease that was entirely preventable.
Thousands of frontline health workers, many of them women, were once again deployed to go door to door in cities, villages and informal settlements, often working in difficult and sometimes dangerous conditions. Bhutto Zardari paid tribute to their commitment and courage, noting that the campaign reflected a national mission launched under Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.
She urged families to see vaccination not just as a medical obligation but as a collective responsibility, stressing that the final chapter in Pakistan’s polio story could only be written together.
