Bannu Division Hinders Pakistan’s Anti-Polio Campaign Efforts

PESHAWAR: Bannu Division has emerged as a significant obstacle to Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to eradicate polio, having reported four of the five cases nationwide this year, according to health officials.

The Emergency Operation Centre in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa revealed that its recent week-long polio vaccination campaign, which concluded on September 27, achieved an overall coverage of 99%. However, only 86% of children in Bannu, identified as the epicenter of the poliovirus, were vaccinated. The division also recorded 4,701 cases of vaccination refusal, second only to Peshawar, which had 5,635 refusals.

This situation poses serious implications for public health in the region, as Peshawar reported 10,558 children missed by vaccinators during house-to-house visits. Bannu followed closely with 5,873 children missing immunization due to similar reasons. In total, 83,989 children missed vaccination, nearly matching the figures from the previous campaign, alongside a rise in vaccination refusal cases to 20,167.

Health officials are now strategizing on how to address these challenges, with plans for enhanced community engagement and targeted outreach to parents resistant to vaccination. The next nationwide campaign is anticipated to focus on overcoming these hurdles to ensure higher immunization rates.