A three-year-old boy in Bannu, Pakistan, has been paralysed for life due to the wild poliovirus, highlighting the continued threat of polio in areas with limited healthcare and unsanitary conditions.
Despite efforts by the government to eradicate the virus, the incident emphasizes the need for further action.
The Federal Health Minister expressed concern and stated that the disease is preventable.
While no child has been paralysed by polio in Pakistan since 2021, the virus still poses a threat in certain districts.
Resistance from conservative locals and extremists has hindered vaccination efforts, with some believing it to be a foreign conspiracy.
Vaccination remains the most effective method to prevent polio, and officials are urging parents to realize its importance.
A vaccination campaign will begin in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to interrupt wild polio transmission. In 2022, 20 children have been affected by polio in Pakistan.
