PAKISTAN is making leaps. Just not of the desired kind. The country has mindbogglingly gone from eight polio cases at end of June to 33 by mid-October. Whereas much has been written on the subject this year, this sustained rise in cases points to a deeper issue: systemic healthcare failures.

While it is true that the government is confronted with challenges such as disinformation, parental refusal, and attacks on polio workers, it is time we realise that our children are falling victim not only to the virus, but also to the lack of healthcare infrastructure and poor governance.

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In Balochistan, for instance, where immunisation coverage is as low as 37pc, children are vulnerable not just to polio but also a range of preventable diseases. Many RHCs remain non-functional or under-resourced, leaving large populations without basic healthcare. This makes vaccination campaigns, however well-intentioned, only acute fixes when the real issue is chronic neglect of public health services.

Compounding this are reports of number-fudging and fake vaccination data. While the government claims high coverage, environmental samples continue to test positive for the virus, especially in high-risk areas like Quetta. This disconnect between official figures and ground realities has eroded trust.

The polio crisis cannot be solved in isolation. Pakistan must rethink its approach to healthcare delivery. Instead of treating polio as a stand-alone emergency, it should be incorporated into a broader public health strategy. Polio workers, for example, could be trained to promote other health measures, such as sanitation, nutrition, and maternal health. This would not only help in the fight against polio but also strengthen the overall healthcare system.

The government’s role cannot be understated. It must prioritise improving basic healthcare infrastructure, especially in rural areas. Functioning health centres, routine immunisation, and trained staff are essential to protect children from diseases like polio and restore the faith of the citizenry in immunisation efforts.

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Transparency in reporting is equally vital. Local officials should be held accountable for alleged falsification of data, and regular audits must be conducted to ensure every child is vaccinated. The government must acknowledge that health workers need better protection from obscurantist forces that want to ensure anti-polio campaigns fail.

At the same time, communities must take responsibility. Public health is a shared duty, and without collective cooperation, no vaccination drive will succeed. Parents will have to realise that regular polio vaccines are the only way to save their children from a life-altering condition. Since it is such a prevailing issue, the government may consider incentivising parents for getting their children inoculated.

Pakistan’s polio crisis is more than the failure to vaccinate. It is the failure to deliver on basic public health promises.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2024