Nationwide Anti-Polio Campaign Launched to Protect 28 Million Children
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s nationwide anti-polio campaign kicked off on Monday, aiming to vaccinate over 28 million children under five across 99 districts, the National Polio Eradication Programme announced.
More than 240,000 polio workers are participating in the campaign, which also covers Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and the federal capital.
Officials highlighted that the risk of polio and other infectious diseases has increased in flood-affected areas, urging parents to ensure children receive polio drops during every campaign round. Health experts emphasized that timely completion of immunisation schedules is critical to preventing disease outbreaks.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Phase
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the first phase of the campaign targets 19 districts and over 5.7 million children. So far this year, the province has reported 15 polio cases. The second phase of the campaign is scheduled for September 15.
Polio Cases in Pakistan
Recent confirmations from southern KP brought Pakistan’s total polio cases in 2025 to 23, including:
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15 cases in KP
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6 cases in Sindh
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1 case each in Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan
Polio is a highly infectious and incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis. The only proven protection is through repeated doses of the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) for all children under five, along with completing routine immunisations.
Despite progress, the detection of new cases, especially in southern KP, underscores that children in remote or low-acceptance areas remain at risk.
Call to Action
Polio eradication requires community participation. Parents and caregivers are urged to:
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Ensure children receive all recommended OPV doses
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Complete routine immunisations on time
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Support vaccination drives and counter misinformation
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Encourage others in their community to vaccinate children
Through collective effort, Pakistan can continue its fight against polio and protect future generations.
