THIS is with reference to the report ‘Polio worker allegedly abducted, raped in Jacobabad: official’ (Sept 11).

Reports about polio workers being sexually assaulted paint a sorry state of affairs in the country. The women polio workers particularly become victims of social crimes which range from abduction to sexual harassment.

There have been many fresh polio cases within the last nine months in Pakistan; a dozen of them in Balochistan alone. This is rather distressing, and indicates that Balochistan requires a lot more attention than the rest of the country.

Today, Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries with active polio cases. Needless to say, the government must launch countrywide awareness campaigns to educate the people against the dangers the polio virus poses.

Besides, more and better security arrangements should be in place for the protection of polio workers who risk their lives in keeping the anti-polio drive alive.

There should be complete immunisation of the refugees who enter Pakistan from Afghanistan.

Only through sincere efforts, unity and collaboration among polio workers and the local folks can we hope to secure a healthy, safe and polio-free Pakistan.

Ahmad Malick
Lahore

Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2024