The polio monster

Pakistan’s long and arduous battle against polio has once again suffered a setback. The confirmation of a new case in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has pushed the total for 2025 to 18, each case a painful reminder of how vulnerable our children remain to a disease the rest of the world has defeated. That polio still finds space to survive and spread in Pakistan is a failure of systems, society and state. The science is simple: polio is incurable but preventable, and multiple doses of the vaccine can protect every child under five. The problem, however, is far more complex. Pakistan’s Polio Eradication Programme has repeatedly warned that immunity gaps – caused by vaccine refusals or inaccessibility – allow the virus to persist. In many areas, particularly in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, vaccine hesitancy remains dangerously high. Conspiracy theories, distrust in the state and religious misinformation continue to undermine years of effort.

It is no longer enough to simply dispatch teams with vaccines. The government must shift from a purely medical approach to one that is deeply social. Community buy-in is critical. That means working with people who hold moral authority in communities – local elders, religious scholars, imams, teachers – to counter the dangerous myths surrounding the polio vaccine. It also means building sustained media campaigns that celebrate vaccination, highlight success stories, and present a clear, human cost of inaction. Consider the turnaround in Balochistan. From over 20 cases in 2024, the province has so far reported none in 2025. Environmental surveillance shows a dramatic drop in virus prevalence, from 98 per cent to 17 per cent. This shows what is possible when strategy, outreach and community efforts align.

But even as we demand responsibility from parents, the state must acknowledge its own failures. Decades of neglect have bred an atmosphere of deep suspicion and resentment. In places where people struggle to access drinking water, healthcare or education, vaccine drives – however critical – are often viewed as isolated, even insincere, interventions. This gap in trust must be addressed. One way forward is to incentivise cooperation. The government should explore partnerships with private players, NGOs and utility companies to create modest but meaningful incentives such as discounts on utility bills or small stipends for families that ensure timely vaccinations. Such measures may seem small, but they can send a strong message: the state values the health of its children and the cooperation of its people. Pakistan just cannot afford to surrender to misinformation or fatigue. Every unvaccinated child is a potential victim and vector of a disease that the world no longer suffers from. The fight against polio is a national obligation, one we owe to every child.