The World Health Organization (WHO) praised Pakistan on Thursday to reduce polio cases by more than 99% since 1994, reaffirming their commitment to help the country to complete the final phase of eradication.
Despite the significant progress, the disease has seen a resurgence in some of Pakistan’s most volatile regions, and the challenges remain in the fight against polyomyelitis.
WHO, recognizing Pakistan’s efforts, emphasized that he would continue to support the country in “running the last mile” to end the paralyzing disease.
This message was delivered during the Islamabad accommodation of the technical advisory group for the eradication of the polio, a key forum that brings together global experts for strategies to eliminate the global polio threat.
Since the 1990s, when Pakistan reported about 20,000 cases annually, the country has advanced notable in the eradication of polyomyelitis.
For 2018, the number of cases had fallen to only eight, and only six cases were recorded in 2023. WHO praised this progress, noting that Pakistan has reduced polio cases by more than 99% since 1994.
However, there have been recent setbacks, with 73 cases reported in 2022, a strong increase in only one case in 2021. The most recent case was reported last Wednesday of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, a province in the northwest of Pakistan.
Pakistan, together with neighbor Afghanistan, is still one of the last two countries of the endemic polyomield worldwide.
The resurgence of polyomyelitis in certain regions, particularly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan, is exacerbated by challenges that include militant attacks against health and misinformation workers spread by religious delays.
The WHO regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Hanan Balkhy, warned that eradication efforts both in Afghanistan and Pakistan faced serious threats, particularly due to the suspension of foreign aid by the United States under former President Donald Trump
On Tuesday, WHO’s deputy director, Dr. Mike Ryan, also raised concerns about a financing gap of $ 68 million for the eradication work of polyomyelitis in Pakistan, which could endanger the progress made so far. “Urgent funds are required to ensure that very close profits are not lost,” said Dr. Ryan in a video published in X.
Despite these challenges, Pakistan’s commitment to the eradication of polyomyelitis remains firm.
The Pakistan polyomyelitis eradication program will launch its first national vaccination unit of 2025 from February 3 to 9, with the aim of immunizing millions of children and bringing the country closer to achieve a future -free future.
