Sindh has confirmed a total of 12 polio-affected children across the province and one of them has been died of the virus, highlighting a concerning uptick in infections
By Abdul Samad
KARACHI: In the current year, Pakistan has witnessed the tragic deaths of three children due to polio, with the most recent cases reported in Karachi and Balochistan. Sources from the Emergency Operation Center (EOC) Sindh revealed that one of the deceased children, Abdullah, lived in Qasim Town, located in District Malir. The other two children were from the Qilla Saifullah district in Balochistan, near Quetta.
The EOC Sindh has confirmed that the total number of polio-affected children across the province has now reached 12 with four of those occurring in Karachi, highlighting a concerning uptick in infections. The affected areas within the city include Malir, District East, and Keamari, raising alarms about the spread of the virus in urban settings. In Balochistan, the situation is also alarming, with 20 reported cases, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has seen five infections.
Additionally, the polio virus has been detected in one child each from Punjab and Islamabad, underscoring the widespread nature of the outbreak. In response to this growing crisis, a nationwide polio eradication campaign is set to commence on October 28. It is pertinent to mention that Sindh, especially Karachi, is on the verge of a virus outbreak if timely action is not taken.
The EOC Sindh must abandon self-flattering initiatives and adopt concrete measures to protect innocent children. It is unfortunate that the elite class of the country or the bureaucracy does not experience the profound pain of losing their own children to such preventable diseases, leading to a lack of urgency in addressing the crisis. The bureaucratic mentality, designing the main course, often results in superficial ‘initiatives’ rather than effective actions.
The upcoming anti-polio drive on October 28 aims to combat the resurgence of this debilitating disease and ensure that no child suffers from the preventable affliction. As health officials prepare for the campaign, the urgency to mobilize resources and raise public awareness about vaccination is more critical than ever in the fight against polio in Pakistan.
