The World Health Organization (WHO) praised Pakistan on Thursday for reducing polio cases by more than 99% since 1994, reaffirming its commitment to help the country to complete the final phase of eradication.
Despite significant progress, the disease has experienced resurgence in some of the most volatile regions of Pakistan, and challenges remain in the fight against polio.
WHO, recognizing the efforts of Pakistan, stressed that it would continue to support the country in “running the last kilometer” to end the paralyzing disease.
This message was delivered during the accommodation by Islamabad of the Technical Advisory Group for the eradication of Polio, a key forum bringing together global experts to develop strategies on the elimination of the global threat of polio.
Since the 1990s, when Pakistan has reported approximately 20,000 cases per year, the country has made remarkable progress in the eradication of polio.
In 2018, the number of cases fell just eight and only six cases were recorded in 2023. WHO congratulated this progress, noting that Pakistan reduced polio by more than 99% since 1994.
However, recent setbacks took place, with 73 cases reported in 2022, a strong increase compared to a single case in 2021. The most recent case was reported last Wednesday to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, a northwest province from Pakistan.
Pakistan, as well as neighboring Afghanistan, remain one of the last two countries of politico-endemic worldwide.
The resurgence of polio in certain regions, in particular Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balutchistan, is exacerbated by challenges, including militant attacks against health workers and disinformation widespread by religious hard liners.
The WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Hanan, Balky, warned that eradication efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan have faced serious threats, in particular due to the suspension of foreign aid by The United States under former President Donald Trump.
On Tuesday, the deputy director of the WHO, Dr. Mike Ryan, also raised concerns about a financing gap of $ 68 million for the work of eradicating polio in Pakistan, which could compromise the progress made until ‘now. “Urgent funding is necessary to ensure that hard gains are not lost,” said Dr. Ryan in a video published on X.
Despite these challenges, Pakistan’s commitment to the eradication of polio remains firm.
The Pakistani polio eradication program should launch its first national vaccination campaign from 2025 from February 3 to 9, aimed at immunizing millions of children and bringing the country closer to the realization of a future without polio.
