Targeting polio teams

Pakistan’s flagging efforts to tackle its growing polio crisis were badly hit by an attack killing two policemen who were guarding a polio vaccination team. The attack took place early on Wednesday in the Lower Dir district which has suffered similar attacks in the past and where an anti-polio campaign had to be abandoned last year after false news was spread over social media about children falling sick after receiving the drops. This year, at least seven polio team members and policemen have been killed in various parts of the country. Since 2012, at least 98 people have been targeted by those who oppose vaccination against polio. On Monday Pakistan had launched its latest National Immunization Day aiming to reach more than 39 million children under the age of five across the country for polio and other vaccinations. Pakistan remains one of only two countries in the world still endemic for polio. The other country is Afghanistan. This year, Pakistan has reported 104 cases of polio compared to 12 in 2018. Afghanistan has reported 22 cases.

Officials from the WHO and other vaccination teams have stated that the attacks on polio vaccination teams is one of the factors which hampers efforts to eradicate the disease. More than 260,000 staff take part in each anti-polio effort with vaccination teams visiting people across the country in every district from door to door. Given the latest attack, the campaign is to continue across the country but will be suspended in the Bishigram sub district where the attack occurred. Efforts are also on to track down those behind the attack. The killing of members of polio teams naturally means that volunteers are less willing to go into the field and visit homes in far-flung areas of the country. The world has had huge successes in eradicating the disease. From 350,000 cases in 1988 reported globally, the number had fallen to 33 in 2018.

Already large numbers of security personnel are having to be deployed with polio teams in many parts of the country. This is a massive strain on the security network. The death of two more officials acts as further discouragement. The policemen were killed with pistols and it is unknown how many attackers were involved. But Pakistan will have to act against both the attacks and the rumours against the anti-polio vaccine. Unless it succeeds in winning over people, persuading them that the vaccination is a necessity and finding ways to keep teams and the officials guarding them, polio will continue to spread. The involvement of local communities is essential for this purpose and this should be a focus of attention as the effort to wipe out polio continues.