Approximately 16 million children living in remote areas and dangerous border regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan will receive polio vaccinations this week.
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| WHO’s goal is to eradicate polio globally (Photo: TTO) |
This is considered one of the most vigorous campaigns by the World Health Organization (WHO) to control polio.
Tens of thousands of health workers will be deployed across these areas in the coming days to carry out the polio vaccination program. WHO hopes to eradicate polio in Afghanistan and Pakistan through this initiative.
So far this year, there have been 5 reported cases of polio in Afghanistan and 2 in Pakistan. According to Fadela Chaib, a WHO spokesperson, 14 million children in Pakistan and 2 million children in Afghanistan will be vaccinated in this campaign.
Oliver Rosenbauer from WHO mentioned that the healthcare teams involved in the campaign face not only geographical challenges but also life-threatening dangers due to the hazardous conditions in these areas.
WHO launched a global polio eradication initiative in 1988 with the aim of eliminating this virus. However, the program faced setbacks two years ago when vaccination efforts were halted in northern Nigeria, leading to the resurgence of polio in previously polio-free countries.
Currently, WHO believes that this campaign is effective, and the goal of eradicating polio globally is within reach.
T.VY
