ISLAMABAD, Oct 24 (APP):World Polio Day is being observed across the globe on Saturday to renew the commitment to eradicating poliovirus and highlight the importance of vaccination, as Pakistan continues efforts to eliminate the disease after reporting seven cases so far in 2026.
The day highlights the need for sustained immunisation campaigns, effective disease surveillance and community engagement to ensure that every child receives polio vaccines and remains protected against the virus.
In 1988, the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution to eradicate polio worldwide, leading to the launch of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), a public-private partnership. Since then, wild poliovirus cases have declined by more than 99 per cent, from an estimated 350,000 cases annually across more than 125 endemic countries to continued transmission in just two countries.
Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only countries where wild poliovirus is endemic, highlighting the need for continued vaccination coverage and coordinated efforts by health authorities, frontline workers and communities.
Pakistan has reduced its polio burden by 99.8 per cent since 1994, from an estimated 20,000 cases annually to seven reported cases in 2026 so far. Of these, five cases have been reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including four in southern districts, while two cases have been reported in Sindh.
The Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative continues to work with federal and provincial health authorities and international partners to interrupt virus transmission through vaccination campaigns, environmental surveillance and efforts to reach children who have missed routine immunisation.
Pakistan has conducted two nationwide and two sub-national polio vaccination campaigns in 2026, alongside targeted interventions in Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar. Each nationwide campaign targets approximately 45 million children under five.
More than 400,000 frontline polio workers, including men and women, are engaged in reaching children across the country, often working in challenging conditions to ensure that no child is missed.
The next sub-national polio vaccination campaign is scheduled for November 2 to 8 in 97 selected districts, targeting more than 23.9 million children under five.
Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that primarily affects children under five but can also infect unvaccinated people of any age. The virus invades the nervous system and can cause irreversible paralysis within hours.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately one in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis, usually affecting the legs. Among those paralysed, five to 10 per cent die when their breathing muscles become immobilized.
There is no cure for polio, but it can be prevented through vaccination. The WHO recommends oral polio vaccine (OPV) and inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), which provide effective protection when administered according to recommended schedules.
Health authorities have urged parents and caregivers to ensure that every child under five receives polio drops during every vaccination campaign, regardless of previous vaccination history.
World Polio Day serves as a reminder that sustained public cooperation, routine immunisation and the dedication of frontline workers are essential to interrupting poliovirus transmission and achieving a polio-free future for every child in Pakistan.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
