02:31Health workers were seen distributing the polio vaccine to school children in Karachi on Monday, as the country launched its latest nationwide inoculation drive following a surge in cases.
Footage shows the pupils lining up for their doses, while the staff said that while some parents backed the campaign, others were more hesitant.
"Some people are co-operative and some are not," explained Bisma Khan. "I don’t know what is going on in their heads. They have some kind of phobia that this will cause damage to the health of kids."
"We would go door to door to offer our services, but people who avoid giving these drops to their kids are a problem for us," added Ayesha Rehman. "It's because of them that cases of polio are on the rise in Pakistan."
According to reports, the campaign aims to vaccinate 45 million children under the age of five.. 41 new cases have been reported this year.
Polio is a highly infectious disease which can cause paralysis and even death in some cases.
No cure exists, although most countries except Pakistan and Afghanistan have eradicated the disease through vaccination campaigns. According to Pakistan's Polio Eradication Programme, the vaccine offered is safe, effective and halal.
October 24 is World Polio Day. Dr Hanan Balkhi, regional director of the World Health Organisation's Eastern Mediterranean Office, stated that from 2014 to September 2023, the UAE had delivered more than 700 million doses of polio vaccines to Pakistan.
Pakistan begins nationwide polio vaccination drive following surge in cases
Health workers were seen distributing the polio vaccine to school children in Karachi on Monday, as the country launched its latest nationwide inoculation drive following a surge in cases.
Footage shows the pupils lining up for their doses, while the staff said that while some parents backed the campaign, others were more hesitant.
"Some people are co-operative and some are not," explained Bisma Khan. "I don’t know what is going on in their heads. They have some kind of phobia that this will cause damage to the health of kids."
"We would go door to door to offer our services, but people who avoid giving these drops to their kids are a problem for us," added Ayesha Rehman. "It's because of them that cases of polio are on the rise in Pakistan."
According to reports, the campaign aims to vaccinate 45 million children under the age of five.. 41 new cases have been reported this year.
Polio is a highly infectious disease which can cause paralysis and even death in some cases.
No cure exists, although most countries except Pakistan and Afghanistan have eradicated the disease through vaccination campaigns. According to Pakistan's Polio Eradication Programme, the vaccine offered is safe, effective and halal.
October 24 is World Polio Day. Dr Hanan Balkhi, regional director of the World Health Organisation's Eastern Mediterranean Office, stated that from 2014 to September 2023, the UAE had delivered more than 700 million doses of polio vaccines to Pakistan.
Health workers were seen distributing the polio vaccine to school children in Karachi on Monday, as the country launched its latest nationwide inoculation drive following a surge in cases.
Footage shows the pupils lining up for their doses, while the staff said that while some parents backed the campaign, others were more hesitant.
"Some people are co-operative and some are not," explained Bisma Khan. "I don’t know what is going on in their heads. They have some kind of phobia that this will cause damage to the health of kids."
"We would go door to door to offer our services, but people who avoid giving these drops to their kids are a problem for us," added Ayesha Rehman. "It's because of them that cases of polio are on the rise in Pakistan."
According to reports, the campaign aims to vaccinate 45 million children under the age of five.. 41 new cases have been reported this year.
Polio is a highly infectious disease which can cause paralysis and even death in some cases.
No cure exists, although most countries except Pakistan and Afghanistan have eradicated the disease through vaccination campaigns. According to Pakistan's Polio Eradication Programme, the vaccine offered is safe, effective and halal.
October 24 is World Polio Day. Dr Hanan Balkhi, regional director of the World Health Organisation's Eastern Mediterranean Office, stated that from 2014 to September 2023, the UAE had delivered more than 700 million doses of polio vaccines to Pakistan.