Islamabad, April 18 (NationPress) The battle against polio in Pakistan is faltering, attributed not only to the resilient virus but also to the violent and ongoing opposition faced by those dedicated to its eradication, as reported by a prominent media outlet.

A report from Pakistan's esteemed newspaper, Dawn, reveals that police escorts have been killed and polio workers abducted in recent assaults within KP's Hangu and Bannu, along with various regions of Balochistan.

These assaults coincide with a nationwide immunization initiative aimed at delivering vaccine drops to millions of children, with thousands of administrative personnel deployed across the country.

The report highlights that these vaccination efforts have become targets for militants, who frequently label them as fronts for intelligence operations or foreign interference. The progress of these immunization campaigns has been inconsistent due to vaccine hesitancy and disruptive actions. Each attack exacerbates the situation, leaving entire communities unprotected as vaccinators withdraw.

The repercussions of these challenges are evident in the statistics, with Pakistan remaining one of the two nations where polio is still endemic. Although positive trends have seen case numbers drop to single digits in recent years, occasional surges in cases are fueled by unvaccinated children, creating gaps that allow the virus to reemerge, as noted in the report.

The report further emphasizes that while ensuring the safety of frontline workers is crucial, the government's approach must extend beyond mere security measures. It underscores that rebuilding community trust is essential for a lasting solution, necessitating genuine engagement with local populations, including religious leaders and clerics who hold sway at the grassroots level.

On April 13, a police constable lost his life, and four others sustained injuries when a law enforcement team assigned to protect polio teams in Hangu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa came under attack.

This incident occurred in Thall tehsil on the inaugural day of the vaccination campaign scheduled from April 13-19. According to a statement from the Hangu District police, unidentified attackers opened fire on the police unit, resulting in one officer's death and injuries to four others, as reported by Dawn.

In February, another police officer was killed when unidentified assailants targeted a vaccination team in Chaman district of Balochistan.

Additionally, polio teams faced assaults in various locations in Lahore in February as parents refused to allow the administration of polio drops to their children.