Pakistan Launches 2025 Anti-Polio Initiative
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Synopsis
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has initiated a nationwide anti-polio campaign for 2025, aiming to eradicate the disease from the country. The campaign spans from February 3 to February 9, targeting millions of children and emphasizing the importance of teamwork and international support in this critical public health effort.
Key Takeaways
- Launch of nationwide anti-polio campaign
- Targets millions of children from February 3 to 9
- 73 cases reported last year; only one this year
- Emphasis on teamwork and international support
- Polio primarily affects children under 5 years
Islamabad, Feb 3 (NationPress) The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, has officially commenced a comprehensive nationwide anti-polio initiative for the year 2025, reiterating his administration's commitment to entirely eradicate polio from the South Asian nation.
This immunization effort, scheduled from February 3 to February 9, aims to reach millions of children in Pakistan to safeguard their health and future, as highlighted by the Prime Minister during the launch event.
He mentioned that polio teams would extend their efforts to the most remote regions and villages across the country, expressing confidence that these teams would fulfill their significant national duty with utmost dedication.
Sharif noted that 73 polio cases were identified in the previous year, marking a considerable challenge and setback. So far this year, only one new case has been recorded.
Emphasizing his commitment to eliminate polio at any cost, the Prime Minister stated that collective teamwork and assistance from international allies are essential in combating the disease, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
The World Health Organization indicates that polio is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system, potentially leading to complete paralysis within hours. Transmission occurs mainly through person-to-person contact, primarily via the fecal-oral route, or less frequently, through contaminated water or food.
Initial symptoms include fever, fatigue, headaches, vomiting, neck stiffness, and limb pain. Of every 200 infections, one leads to irreversible paralysis, typically affecting the legs, and 5-10% of those paralyzed may die due to immobilization of their breathing muscles.
While polio predominantly impacts children under five, unvaccinated individuals of any age can contract the disease.
Currently, there is no treatment for polio; prevention is key. The polio vaccine, administered multiple times, can provide lifelong protection for children. There are two effective vaccines: the oral polio vaccine and the inactivated polio vaccine, both utilized globally based on local epidemiological and programmatic needs to ensure optimal protection for communities.
