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A police officer stands guard as a health worker administers a polio vaccine to a child, in Peshawar, Pakistan, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP
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Pakistani authorities on Wednesday (December 18, 2024) postponed a polio vaccination campaign in the country’s restive southern Balochistan province after health workers boycotted it to oppose a proposed privatisation of hospitals.
Authorities on Monday launched the final nationwide polio vaccination campaign for the year, aiming to protect 45 million children.
Also Read | Pakistan anti-polio drive struggles against militants, mistrust
According to the World Health Organisation, Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan remain the only two countries where the potentially fatal, paralysing virus has not been eradicated.
Anwarul Haq of the National Emergency Operation Centre for Polio Eradication, said the polio vaccination campaign in Balochistan was delayed until December 30 for “better preparedness.” He provided no further details.
However, other health and government officials said the campaign in Balochistan was postponed after health workers refused to join it and demanded that the government stop plans to privatise state-run hospitals where they work.
Representatives of health workers have also urged the government not to employ unqualified workers to carry out the campaign.
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Restive Balochistan has reported the highest number of polio cases, with 26 out of the nationwide 63 confirmed cases since January. The campaign continues until December 22 in other areas in Pakistan.
Also Read | Grave concern: On wild-type poliovirus type-1 cases in Pakistan, Afghanistan
Pakistan regularly launches campaigns against polio despite attacks on the workers and police assigned to the inoculation drives. Militants falsely claim the vaccination campaigns are a Western conspiracy to sterilize children.
More than 200 polio workers and police assigned for their protection have been killed since the 1990s, according to health officials and authorities.
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Published – December 18, 2024 09:28 pm IST
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Pakistan postpones polio vaccination drive in southwest after health workers boycott it
