In a distressing incident, two policemen were shot dead in Quetta, Pakistan, while escorting a polio vaccination team. The attack occurred amidst an ongoing immunization drive to protect children from the debilitating disease.
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On Tuesday, in the Nawai Kalle locality of Quetta, unknown assailants launched the attack on the polio vaccination team and the accompanying policemen. The region has been the focus of an active immunization campaign aimed at eradicating polio.
Following the tragic incident, security forces swiftly cordoned off the area, and an investigation into the matter has been initiated. The bodies of the slain policemen were taken to the hospital for further procedures.
In 2023, there has been one reported case of Wild Poliovirus Type 1 (WPV1) in Bannu, which is part of the seven polio-endemic districts in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Additionally, one WPV1 positive environmental sample was reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, bringing the total number of WPV1 environmental samples in the country to 12 for the year.
This tragic incident underscores the challenges faced by health workers and law enforcement officials in their efforts to combat polio in Pakistan. The attack on the vaccination team highlights the importance of safeguarding those working to protect the nation’s children from preventable diseases.
