Abstract
Polio is one of the diseases which is incurable but can
be prevented. Polio virus when invades nervous system through blood stream, causes Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) the person’s life become cripple. Many
epidemics are caused by poliovirus in the last three
centuries; European and North American were the
target initially, currently most cases are reported from
Asia & Africa.1 It is estimated that allover the world
about 100,000 new children are infected by polio virus
every year, fortunately a small fraction develops active
polio disease.
Pakistan is among three countries2
where poliomyelitis (polio) is still categorized as an endemic viral infection.3
Expanded program of immunization against
childhood tuberculosis, Poliomyelitis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Measles and Tetanus was launched in Pakistan with the support of World Health Organization
(WHO) in 19744
which is now further expended with
inclusion of Hepatitis B and H. Influenza. Initially results of EPI programme found promising with decline
in the polio cases. Later over the years, the progress
against polio virus became eclipsed. After three decades, the coverage rate against polio is only 77%
which is self explantory.5
Realizing alarming situation, world health assembly in
1994 passed resolution for global eradication of polio
by the year 2000 with supplementary immunization
doses of polio to be administered to children less than
5 years of age through National Immunization Days
(NID’s). Pakistan, India, Nigeria and Afghanistan frequently organize NID’s for oral polio vaccination to
achieve the goal of polio free world. Pakistan is far
away from target set by WHO and we failed to completely eradicate polio from Pakistan. At the time of
publication, in the current year, five (05) cases of polio
are reported from the country, one from KarachiSindh6
, one from Punjab and three from Khyber
Pakhtoon Khwa. Reason is probably obvious, as Polio
virus had been detected in sewerage lines of Hyderabad and Karachi.
Mohan L. Bhootrani, Syed Mohammad Tahir. (2012) Polio Free Pakistan: Reality or Dream?, Journal of Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Volume-11, Issue-3.
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