17 Health Workers Killed in Pakistan During Polio Vaccination Drives
Islamabad, Pakistan – This year, at least 17 health workers have lost their lives while conducting polio vaccination drives in Pakistan. These tragic events highlight the dangers faced by those working to eliminate the disease. Despite the resurgence of polio, with 17 cases reported this year, militants continue to target health workers, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces.
Since 2012, 126 individuals have been killed and 201 injured in attacks on healthcare workers involved in the polio program. One notable incident this year was the killing of Abdul Rehman, a senior polio program official, in Bajaur. The constant threat of violence has left health workers in fear for their lives.
Shehnaz Bibi, a lady health worker, expressed the pervasive fear among her colleagues, stating, “In every vaccination drive, our colleagues are either killed or injured.” These attacks have also led to a wave of refusals, with militants warning communities against vaccinations, causing many families to turn away polio immunisation teams.
In addition to the loss of life, the polio eradication campaign has faced other challenges, including administrative failures and fraudulent reporting of vaccination data. Some vaccinators and officials have been found forging coverage reports to satisfy foreign donors, deepening public distrust.
Pakistan remains one of only two countries where the poliovirus is still endemic. The international community continues to pressure Pakistan to eradicate polio, but political issues and local demands for basic services have further complicated the campaign. The ongoing attacks and refusals prolong the presence of the virus, endangering not only Pakistani children but also global efforts to eradicate polio.
Doubts Revealed
Polio -: Polio is a disease caused by a virus that can make people very sick, sometimes causing paralysis or even death. Vaccines can prevent it.
Vaccination drives -: Vaccination drives are organized efforts to give vaccines to many people, especially children, to protect them from diseases like polio.
Militants -: Militants are people who use violence to achieve their goals. In this case, they are attacking health workers.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa -: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a province in Pakistan. It is one of the areas where health workers are being attacked.
Balochistan -: Balochistan is another province in Pakistan. It is also facing attacks on health workers.
Polio eradication campaign -: A polio eradication campaign is an effort to completely get rid of polio by vaccinating everyone who might get the disease.
Administrative failures -: Administrative failures mean problems in the way the vaccination program is managed, like poor planning or lack of resources.
Fraudulent reporting -: Fraudulent reporting means giving false information about how many people have been vaccinated, which can make it harder to stop the disease.