Polio remains a stubborn public health adversary in Pakistan. Along with Afghanistan, Pakistan remains one of the last refuges for this terribly contagious viral illness. Polio mostly impacts children younger than five years old. It takes over the entire nervous system and leads its host to paralysis or death in extreme cases. Despite large investments, including nearly 200 national immunization drives in the last 30 years, Pakistan has been unable to finish off the disease leaving it endemic. Myths surrounding the vaccine are a huge hurdle to moving forward. Recent cuts in funding from the United States threaten to push these transitions back further.
In making its case, the World Health Organization (WHO) has raised some key concerns. They argue that cuts to US funding would threaten ongoing eradication efforts in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Polio cases increased dramatically in 2025, emphasizing the need to intensify efforts now. If vaccine uptake is ever going to rebound, we need to address these difficulties directly and combat the negative myths about the vaccine.
Challenges in Eradication Efforts
Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts have repeatedly been undermined by a slew of misconceptions and myths surrounding the polio immunisation drops. Others think the vaccines are a Western plot to sterilise their kids. Sadia Sulaiman, a resident of Pakistan who walks with a crutch due to polio, often encounters resistance when advocating for vaccinations.
"People who previously were a little suspicious of the whole campaign, they became confirmed in their suspicion that this is a conspiracy by the West, particular USA, to spy on us and get information about things, and they are not really keen to protect the children against polio." – Sadia Sulaiman
Bhutta, a leading authority on the subject, highlights the unfortunate continuation of such myths.
"In some areas, even in a small mosque, a mosque person can say: 'No, don't give polio drops to our children, because it might cause infertility in our population,' That did cause a serious setback to the whole program." – Professor Bhutta
That ongoing work to clear up these myths remains extremely important as Pakistan looks to eradicate polio by 2027. As Professor Bhutta and other experts attest, if we don’t change our approach radically, this target will be difficult to meet.
Security Concerns and Funding Challenges
The eradication program’s security problems have been compounded. In November 2024, a polio vaccination crew and their police escorts were ambushed in western Pakistan. Each incident serves as a painful reminder of the unsafety and danger that healthcare workers experience on the frontline.
The WHO does offer technical advice and expertise to Pakistan, but they do not fund the program directly. Funding cuts from international sources, especially the US, are seen as added hurdles to meeting eradication targets. The WHO works with organizations like the Gates Foundation and UNICEF to fund their eradication initiatives. We know that lack of funding is still an enormous barrier.
In light of these hurdles, migration and health advocate Samra Khurram from the WHO underscores the steadfastness of the Pakistani government’s commitment.
"The [Pakistani] government is very committed and willing to eradicate." – Samra Khurram
Moving Forward: Strategies for Success
To successfully control polio, many experts believe the best way to do so is by strengthening routine immunisation with the polio vaccine. Professor Bhutta argues that they’re not enough.
"Campaigns are not the solution. We have already had … the largest number in the world. We have to look for other strategies to do it. I think the main strategy has to be to improve the routine immunisation that every child born should be registered [and] should get all the vaccines before he [or she] is two years old. Unless we reach every child, it's not possible." – Professor Bhutta
Through the loss, Sadia Sulaiman has stayed active. Both personally and professionally, Sulaiman continues to advocate for vaccination. Her resolve isn’t letting up either as she keeps working to convince parents to get their kids vaccinated.
"I tell them I am scared of falling, slipping, at every step." – Sadia Sulaiman
"They get angry, speak angrily, but when they hear [what I have to say] then they calm down and get their children vaccinated." – Sadia Sulaiman
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