ISLAMABAD: Government representatives urged parents and guardians to vaccinate their children against the debilitating disease once again, as the nation verified its 22nd case of the year.
The most recent incidence reported included a boy from Pishin, Balochistan, who was 30 months old.
The presence of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in the youngster from the Pishin district of Balochistan has been confirmed by the regional reference laboratory for polio eradication at the National Institute of Health.
With 15 of the cases occurring in Balochistan, this raises the total number of polio cases that have been documented to 22 in 2024. Four instances have been reported from Sindh, and one each from KP, Punjab, and Islamabad, according to a lab official.
Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, expressed grave concern over the growing number of polio cases in the nation and emphasized the vital role parents play in preserving their children’s health.
In every example, a youngster whose life has been terribly and needlessly impacted by polio is represented. And vaccinations, given on time and often, are the sole treatment. All of us have failed our children, and every new case serves as a heartbreaking reminder of this. In order to prevent polio, I want all parents to assume accountability and see to it that their kids obtain the vaccine,” the speaker stated.
The government has amended its National Polio Eradication Emergency Operations Plan to target major weaknesses in vaccination acceptability, campaign quality, and access in response to the present outbreak, according to a news release.
Later this year, two massive door-to-door immunization drives are scheduled to close immunity gaps and stop the virus’s spread.
Muhammad Anwarul Haq, the National Coordinator for the Polio Emergency Operations Center, has emphasized the significance of preserving high vaccination rates.
“A tragic reminder of what happens when there are gaps in immunity is presented by every new case,” he stated.
“The virus triumphs when a child skips their immunization. Together, let’s try to halt the virus and safeguard our kids,” Mr. Haq remarked. In order to protect their children’s health and wellbeing, he advised parents to let polio teams inside their homes.
