Muhammad Imran Haider

Polio is a dangerous and contagious disease that can leave children permanently disabled. Unfortunately, there is no effective cure for this disease. However, children can be protected against this deadly illness through timely vaccination. Eradicating polio from Pakistan is one of the country’s major public health goals. The government and health authorities are continuously taking measures to achieve this objective.
The November anti-polio campaign began on November 2. It continued in Lahore until November 8, while in Rawalpindi and 11 other districts of Punjab, the campaign remained active for four days. During the campaign, polio teams went door to door for three days to administer polio drops to children, while an additional day was allocated to reach children who had been missed and conduct follow-up activities. The campaign was conducted in 13 districts of Punjab namely Bhakkar, Chakwal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Kot Addu, Lahore, Layyah, Mianwali, Multan, Murree, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Rawalpindi, and Rahim Yar Khan.

Across these 13 districts of Punjab, a target was set to vaccinate approximately 9.3 million children against polio. More than 77,894 personnel performed their duties across 1,161 union councils. During the campaign, 31,869 mobile teams, 1,776 fixed teams, and 1,150 transit teams were deployed. In addition, 1,211 Union Council Medical Officers and 6,205 Area In-charges also supported the supervision and effective implementation of the campaign.
To ensure the success of the anti-polio campaign, special arrangements were made through mobile teams, permanent vaccination centres, and transit teams so that no child would be left unvaccinated. Particular attention was given to locations with heavy public movement, ensuring that children belonging to travelling families could also receive polio drops.
This was Punjab’s fifth anti-polio campaign of the current year and the third Sub-National Immunization Days campaign. Earlier this year, two national anti-polio campaigns and two sub-national campaigns had already been conducted. These continuous vaccination campaigns are an important part of the national strategy designed to eliminate the polio virus from Pakistan and interrupt its transmission.

According to health experts, 2027 could prove to be a decisive year for Pakistan’s efforts to eradicate polio. To achieve this objective, large-scale anti-polio campaigns are also being planned until June next year. These efforts aim to strengthen children’s immunity, reach those who have missed vaccination, and make measures to prevent the spread of the virus even more effective.
In Rawalpindi, the target was set to administer polio drops to 989,924 children under the age of five during this campaign. For this purpose, special arrangements were made across the district’s 188 union councils. Effective micro-planning and special attention were given to reaching children in high-risk areas, underserved communities, and families that frequently move from one place to another.
The polio workers participating in this campaign are truly the unsung heroes of our society. Despite extreme weather condition and numerous other challenges, they go door to door to fulfil their responsibilities and protect children’s health and future. A significant number of women are also part of these teams. They visit households, communicate with parents, and raise awareness about the importance of vaccinating children.
These dedicated workers not only administer polio drops but also play an important role in addressing parents’ concerns and explaining the importance of vaccination. Without their hard work, dedication, and commitment, achieving the goal of polio eradication would not be possible.

Parents often ask an important question: If their children have already received polio drops several times, why is it necessary to vaccinate them again? According to medical experts, administering polio vaccine during every campaign is essential to strengthen children’s immunity against the virus. Each additional dose helps provide further protection against polio. It is extremely important to understand that even if a child has received polio drops in previous campaigns, they must still receive the vaccine during every new campaign. Parents should not show any negligence or carelessness in this regard.
Government efforts alone are not sufficient to completely eradicate polio. Parents, teachers, religious scholars, social figures, and every member of society must play their role in this national mission.
When polio teams visit homes, parents should ensure that all their children under the age of five receive polio drops. If a child is not at home for any reason or misses vaccination during the initial visit, parents should contact the relevant polio team and make sure that the child is vaccinated.
Similarly, it is important to remain cautious about baseless rumours and misinformation spread about polio vaccination. Parents should rely on authentic medical information and never put their children’s health at risk.
Eradicating polio from Pakistan is not merely the responsibility of the Health Department or the government; it is a national responsibility. If every member of society contributes to this campaign, the day is not far when Pakistan will also join the list of polio-free countries.

We must recognise the fact that a healthy child is the foundation of a strong nation. Protecting children from disability, ensuring their secure future, and providing them with a healthy life are shared responsibilities that we all must fulfil.
There is an urgent need for parents to cooperate fully with every anti-polio campaign, encourage polio workers, and educate other families in their communities about the importance of vaccinating children.
Remember! Just two drops of polio vaccine can play a vital role in protecting your child from lifelong disability. Today’s precaution is the guarantee of a safer and healthier future for generations to come.