Thousands of Children Fail to Get Polio Vaccination in Troubled Regions of Pakistan

Thousands of children in the troubled regions of North West Frontier Province and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA)were not vaccinated against polio during a recent campaign, thanks to unrelenting opposition from conservative elements.

According to health officials, vaccinators were unable to administer polio drops to around 39,498 children during the three-day campaign launched on Aug 19. However, most of the children were later covered during a monitoring campaign, but still 8,825 children were not immunised mainly in Mohmand Agency, Malakand and Lakki Marwat.

Anti-polio Drive in Pak Province Runs into Difficulties
Anti-polio drive in the southern Pakistani province of Sindh has run into difficulties, raising alarm in many quarters.

In the Mohmand tribal area, parents put up some demands in return for allowing vaccination, the officials said, adding that the demands ranged from release of prisoners, supply of water and electricity and construction of roads.

“Most of the people opposing the polio drops have a misconception that it causes infertility and impotence.” Some people in Peshawar too did not allow their children to be vaccinated.

We all have to play our full role to turn the dream of a polio-free Pakistan into reality,” Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani had urged while launching the mass immunisation campaign on Aug 19.

World Polio Day
Polio or Poliomyelitis is an infectious viral disease, which affects the nervous system. Children below the age of five years are more susceptible.

As of 12 August, 27 cases have occurred in 2008, compared to 32 cases in all of 2007, he had pointed out.

The primary areas of indigenous poliovirus transmission in Pakistan are the provinces of North-West Frontier, Balochistan, and Sindh, which includes Karachi. Transmission in North-West Frontier and Balochistan is mostly due to the highly mobile population and people living in areas of insecurity, earlier reports had said.

Immunization in Children - Trivalent oral polio vaccine TOPV
Poliomyelitis is caused by poliovirus, an entero virus and there are 3 types, type 1,2 & 3. Vaccines against poliomyelitis are available in 2 forms, Salk developed IPV and TOPV was developed by Sabin.

The resurgence of polio cases in Sindh is mainly the result of operational challenges. In response, Federal Minister for Health Sherry Rehman has directed the ministry to strengthen dialogue with provincial and district level authorities and more effectively coordinate polio immunization efforts with the health, education, and family welfare departments.

In addition, the Sindh government is taking several steps to make the province polio-free, including -

Immunization
Protect your child from various deadly diseases by giving the vaccinations at the right age. This tool helps you schedule the vaccinations of your child.

Conducting Subnational Immunization Days every month

Involving religious leaders in social mobilization efforts to persuade families to have their children immunized

Promoting the importance of child immunization in the news media

Carrying out mop-up campaigns to immunize children previously missed

In June, The Rotary Foundation awarded US$5.9 million to the World Health Organization and UNICEF for social mobilization activities and operational support in Pakistan.

Rotary clubs are also increasing their participation in Pakistan’s effort to end polio. “All [Rotarian] volunteers have been instructed to personally join the polio vaccinating teams, especially in remote areas of the country, to make sure that no children remain unattended by the teams,” said Almas Ali Jovinda, of the Rotary Club of Lahore Mozang.

Source-Medindia
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