Karachi – Pakistani healthcare workers have recommenced a nationwide campaign against polio aimed at immunizing millions of children within a week.

The first countrywide immunization effort of 2023 had been paused due to threats from militant groups targeting polio workers and security forces. Consequently, the nation reported at least four cases of this paralyzing disease earlier this year.

Read more:Karachi Reports Fifth Polio Case of the Year

In Punjab, an estimated 22 million children are slated to receive polio vaccinations. Meanwhile, in the southeastern region of Sindh, a workforce of 85,000 health professionals is conducting door-to-door visits, reaching out to over 10 million children.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, regions encountering the most resistance to the polio drive, vaccination plans are underway for at least 10 million children.

These concerted efforts play a crucial role in the collective endeavor to establish a polio-free Pakistan.

Polio, a highly contagious and debilitating disease, typically spreads through contaminated water or food. It attacks the nervous system, potentially causing complete paralysis within hours.

The virus has persisted in the border areas between Pakistan and Afghanistan, where militants have targeted and even killed members of anti-polio teams.