The fight against polio

Polio on the rise in Pakistan - new major vaccination campaign

The number of polio cases is increasing before a new vaccination campaign starts in Pakistan next week, AP writes. Since January, 39 new polio cases have been reported in the country, compared to six the year before.

The vaccination campaign starts on October 28 with the goal of vaccinating 32 million children.

- The whole purpose of these campaigns is to achieve the goal of making Pakistan a polio-free country, says Anwarul Haq, who works with the country's polio work.

Pakistan continues to campaign against polio despite attacks on both workers and police who work with them. Militant groups claim that the vaccination campaigns are a Western conspiracy to sterilize children.

 

....................................

The warning: "Should be a wake-up call for everyone"

Pakistan confirms six more cases of polio, which means that 39 children have contracted the serious disease this year alone, writes the BBC.

- This should be a wake-up call for all parents and communities, says Ayesha Raza Farooq, who works with the polio crisis in the country.

According to her, every polio case means there are hundreds of children with a potential asymptomatic infection who can infect others.

On October 28, the country will start a new vaccination campaign with the goal of vaccinating 32 million children.