Polio vaccination campaign in Pakistan
According to media news thousands of Pakistani children are at high risk of Polio disease after killing of several polio workers most of them were women in Karachi and other different parts of country. After well-coordinated attack and killing of several polio vaccination program workers UN has stopped polio vaccination campaign in Pakistan. Due to large area to be covered government find it hard to provide security to thousands of workers who are taking part in polio vaccination campaign. Pakistan city Peshawar is worst affected and several new case of polio reported this year.
Polio female workers most of them belong to poor families are target of recent killing which is very unfortunate. Government is paying only 250 rupees per day for every worker and most of them are not able to risk their lives for small amount of money. Pakistan is at high risk of polio disease last year more than two hundred cases of polio reported in different parts of country now after worst security situation polio vaccinating camping has become big challenge for government.
Last year Militants organizations had banned vaccination campaign in their influence areas. According to health officials thousands children are facing risk of Polio disease because government in not able to organize vaccination campaign due to security concern. Vaccination campaign in Pakistani tribal area is also worst affected after last year fake vaccination campaign organized by CIA to hunt down Osama Bin Laden in Abbotabad Pakistan. Pakistani doctor who organized fake vaccination campaign is sentenced to 33 years. After Abbotabad operation several foreign medical teams have left the tribal area because of security concern.
Local health official also received threats from militants. Militants have already banned health workers to enter South and North Waziristan for immunization campaign. According to health officials due to ban imposed by militants record number of Polio cases were reported this year. Due to last year worst floods and army operation thousands of families have migrated to temporary shelters and don’t have proper medical and sanitation facilities and government is not able to reach thousands of children due to security concern which is very unfortunate.
KHAWAJA UMER FAROOQ
—Jeddah, KSA