Islamabad: As Pakistan reports its 24th case of polio this year, health officials are urgently calling on parents and caregivers to vaccinate their children against the paralytic disease. The latest incident involves a 29-month-old boy from Hyderabad district in Sindh province, signaling a troubling resurgence of the virus across various regions of the country.

According to Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, this year’s cases include 15 from Balochistan, five from Sindh, two from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad. The persistent spread of polio has prompted intensified efforts by health authorities to curb the virus’s transmission, with a comprehensive strategy aimed at vaccinating every child, particularly in high-risk areas.

Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, expressed deep concern over the rise in polio cases and emphasized the critical role of community cooperation in achieving widespread immunization. “Polio has no cure but is entirely preventable through a vaccine that is not only effective but provided free by the government,” she stated. Farooq also highlighted the indiscriminate nature of poliovirus, stressing the importance of comprehensive vaccination to protect all children within the community.

The national strategy includes rigorous campaigns that have already reached nearly 33 million children under five this year, with additional vaccination drives planned in the coming months. Muhammad Anwarul Haq, Coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication, also called on the community to support these efforts. He urged families to actively participate in upcoming vaccination campaigns to ensure their children are protected from the virus.

This proactive response is part of a broader initiative to eradicate polio from Pakistan by mid-2025, focusing on improving vaccine access, enhancing community trust, and ensuring thorough coverage of mobile and migrant populations.