Lack of Security Forces City in Pakistan to Cancel Anti-Polio Campaign

An anti-polio campaign was cancelled in Quetta city, due to inadequate security. The campaign was suspended in 18 union councils of Pakistan’s troubled Baluchistan province as authorities failed to provide timely and proper security cover to health workers and volunteers. The health workers feared for their safety as militants had attacked the campaign before. A source in the health department said that the campaign would be launched again after proper security is provided.

In November 2014, four polio health workers, including three women, were killed when gunmen attacked an anti-polio team in Quetta’s Eastern Bypass area. The Baluchistan Health Department with the cooperation of UNICEF and other agencies aims to provide anti-polio vaccine drops to around 400,000 infants in Quetta in the current campaign.

Baluchistan is considered a high risk area for polio and polio samples have been found in the environment of Quetta. The government has decided to provide anti-polio drops to 1.2 million children in these districts.

Militants have often attacked the polio campaigns. There has been a long running rumor that polio drops cause infertility.



Source-Medindia