*2014 was no better for Pakistan’s polio problem
Polio remained the centre of attention for both the provincial and federal governments during 2014. The number of cases soared to almost 300 and stemmed from various parts of the country. It is a matter of great shame for the country that it has not been able to stop the spread of a preventable disease.
According to WHO, Pakistan tops the list of affected countries affected by polio with 291 cases so far, with the most recent appearing in December. In 2013, there were 93 cases reported, and this year’s increase has sent shockwaves across concerned quarters, and even internationally. Pakistan shares this rather shameful status with Afghanistan and Nigeria, both of which have 26 and 6 cases respectively. India, which also had the virus a few years back, has brought the number down to zero, while Nigeria is also on its way to becoming polio free. The situation is made worse by the fact that Pakistan broke its own record of 212 cases in 2014.
The country’s health apparatus itself is in shambles not just at the centre but also in all provinces. Health, being a devolved subject, is now the responsibility of the units. However, the centre still coordinates and ensures that policy is being implemented as it sees fit. International donors also deal with the centre since it is presumed to be more efficient. However, despite all these measures, polio cases have been reported from the supposedly advanced urban centres of all provinces.
The situation in FATA and KP is worse than the rest of the country where the bulk of the cases have been reported. State Minister of health Saira Afzal Tarrar has been calling the security situation in the country worse than those faced in even Afghanistan and Nigeria. However, the fact that these cases have been reported from all parts of the country speaks volumes about the incompetence of the health apparatus.
The government has also failed to protect workers assigned to different polio teams. Many attacks have been reported on these teams in various parts of the country. Punjab, considered relatively safer, with the government’s writ in place, has also reported attacks that resulted in the death of polio workers in Faisalabad. Previously attacks were only reported in KP and Balochistan, but Punjab is no longer exception.
The Nigerian High Commissioner during an exclusive interview with Pakistan Today shared how its government fought polio. A major step included community mobilization at all levels where even politicians, famous people, and others took polio drops publicly to create awareness among the people. Pakistan, despite such a darkening situation, has taken no such steps. Neither the PM, CM or anyone else from the top political leadership has ever been shown in the media taking polio drops.
This was also the year when polio certification was made mandatory for travellers going abroad from Pakistan. The injunction is despite the fact that the virus does not affect adults. It has been set in place to create awareness among the public. However, no politician—despite their repeated trips abroad—was ever seen taking polio drops to clear any doubts regarding the efficacy of the vaccine. Clerics against the vaccine have repeatedly denounced it as a western ploy, which aims to cause impotency in Muslims. Politicians have never bothered to make any public appearances where they took polio drops.
Routine operations against dengue and flood disasters continued, meanwhile.