World Polio Day: Why Pakistan is failing to eradicate the disease

(24 Oct 2019) LEAD IN: Health authorities in Pakistan say they've confirmed more cases of polio, as the World Health Organisation describes the country as being on a "failing trajectory" in its battle against the deadly virus. Polio remains stubbornly entrenched in parts of Pakistan, where a government vaccination programme has been met by some with suspicion and, at times, lethal opposition. STORY-LINE: In Baluchistan in Pakistan, these health workers are having a productive work day. As they pass from house to house in the city of Quetta, local children - supported by their parents - are consenting to receive the oral polio vaccine. Once a vaccine is administered, the health workers mark the child's house to record it, while police and security officers keep a watchful eye. But while things here are going smoothly, in the wider battle against the deadly polio virus - which remains stubbornly entrenched in parts of Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan - the country is struggling. In a statement issued on 3 October 2019, the World Health Organisation said it was "gravely concerned" by an increase in polio cases in Pakistan. Rashid Razaq, the Co-ordinator of the Polio Emergency Operation Centre in Baluchistan, says the situation is worrying. "This year so far in Pakistan we have reported about 76 cases, and our contribution from Baluchistan has been seven, unfortunately. The seven cases have been reported from four different districts, which include Killa Abdullah - we have three - Jaffarabad - two - and Quetta - one. And now recently one in Harnai," he says. That recent rise contrasts with a trend in recent years of gradual improvement. This year there have been at least 72 cases of polio in Pakistan after only eight in 2018. Pakistani officials say, the rise this year might be partly due to continuous traffic across the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Scepticism from families is also part of the picture, they say, while attacks on health workers have been a concern. In April a health worker and two policemen escorting vaccination teams were killed in separate attacks. According to conservative estimates, at least 70 officials associated with the polio programme have been killed in Pakistan in the last seven years. "(There is) suspicion about the vaccine service efficacy as well. So there are various reasons for that, whereas the lack of co-operation from the community, well as well as the quality of the complaints are so that we could not administer two drops to a child. All of these aspects needs to be improved," concedes Razaq. Here in the village of Chaman, close to the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, 11 year old Hassan Khan is living with polio. His father, Nisar, urges other parents to get their children vaccinated. But in part of Pakistan, parental suspicion runs deep. Some doubt the vaccine's efficacy; others listen to the words of Islamic militants who falsely claim the polio vaccine is a western conspiracy. The Government is doing what it can to dispel such concerns, working with religious leaders to try to send a different message. Hassan's father Nisar's plea is straightforward. "My son is affected with polio. Everyone should try to arrange polio drops for their children, so they can keep their children safe from polio. And my message to all (is) please, give the polio vaccine to your children," he says. In Rawalpindi, Farzana Bibi knows about life with polio all too well. She's a polio survivor, and her experience is driving her to work with the vaccination campaign as a supervisor. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...