In a concerning development, Pakistan has reported its third poliovirus case of the year 2023, once again raising alarms about the country's efforts to eradicate this crippling disease.
The latest case has been detected in the Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the same region where the previous two cases were reported.
The most recent victim is an unfortunate one-and-a-half-year-old girl residing in the Ghoda Baka Khel Union Council of Bannu district.
Tragically, she has been left crippled due to the infection, emphasizing the devastating consequences of the disease. With this latest case, the tally of polio-infected children in Pakistan for the year now stands at three, all from Bannu district.
Furthermore, poliovirus has been found in an environmental sample from Bannu district, indicating the presence of the virus in the region's environment.
So far, 34 such environmental samples have tested positive for poliovirus in various parts of Pakistan, as confirmed by federal authorities.
To combat the spread of polio, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar recently launched a five-day anti-polio vaccination drive.
The campaign aims to reach approximately 44 million children across the country.
Prime Minister Kakar personally inaugurated the initiative by administering oral drops of the anti-polio vaccine and vitamin A to children at the PM House.
This effort was carried out in the presence of Interim Health Minister Dr. Nadeem Jan and other senior officials.
During the launch, Prime Minister Kakar commended the dedication of the 350,000 polio workers who will be actively participating in the vaccination drive. He referred to them as the nation's heroes for their unwavering commitment to making the anti-polio campaign a success. Prime Minister Kakar also acknowledged the valuable support from international partners in Pakistan's ongoing battle against polio.
