Pakistan's anti-polio campaign - A bigger blow

The troubled anti-polio campaign has suffered another blow. Following the killing of four health workers on Wednesday, the WHO has called off the week-long vaccination drive in Balochistan against nine deadly childhood diseases. This is obviously a huge setback for those fighting polio. As health workers are killed, the disease continues to take in its grip more of our children. The four anti-polio workers killed on Wednesday were targeted just outside Quetta. Police say the team had set out without the two police officers who, under government orders, should have been assigned to them. But it is far from certain that these cops could have done much to prevent what was clearly a pre-conceived attack. Security personnel have died alongside health workers in previous assaults, with over 60 persons killed in such incidents. Thirty-four arrests have been made and ammunition seized in an operation launched after Wednesday’s killings. But the damage has already been done.

The Lady Health Workers Employees Union in the province announced a boycott of the anti-polio drive till security can be provided to them. Their reasons are easy to understand. Around 850 health workers were involved in the campaign and the WHO move calling off the drive is intended to protect them. In the meanwhile the number of polio cases continues to rise steadily. The WHO-backed Global Polio Eradication Initiative has now confirmed 246 cases in the country this year. Ninety-three cases were recorded last year. That figure has already been easily doubled, with Pakistan reaching its highest total in over 15 years. It also has the highest number of cases among the three nations of the world -- Nigeria and Afghanistan figuring on the list with Pakistan -- which still remain endemic for the disease. Pakistan has in fact been identified as a global epicentre for polio. The reasons for this are right before us. Militant hostility to vaccinators, highlighted once more by the tragic incident near Quetta, prevents health teams from visiting specific areas, notably in the tribal belt. From here the problem has fanned out, and with this has come an increase in the number of cases. The children afflicted by the disease, their families and the health workers killed while trying to save them are all victims of the situation. Along with the violence, superstition and anti-polio myths – spread by militants – have also contributed to people’s wariness regarding the vaccination drive. Despite top level meetings, the government has failed to find a solution, and till it does we can expect only more death brought by killers who show no mercy.