World Polio Day came and went in Pakistan on October 24, 2013 without much ado. Yes, seminars and discussions were held to raise awareness by some health institutes and non-governmental organisations but the true spirit of the day, which is to strive for a polio-free world, was missing. For instance, an organisation dedicated to fighting religious extremism, called Pakistan For All, banded together a rather large gathering in Lahore for a polio-free Pakistan, one that was attended by news channels and the print media alike. However, coverage was conspicuous by its absence. October 24 was the perfect opportunity to flood the airwaves and newsprint and raise awareness on the anti-polio campaign, but the chance was not availed. It is exactly this kind of commitment that is missing at the state level.
The international community is taking note of Pakistan. More than 50 fresh cases of polio have emerged just this year in our tribal regions, making Pakistan sit uncomfortably on a list together with Afghanistan and Nigeria as the only three countries in the world not to have eradicated polio. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has made some tough vows to this end. It has said that if Pakistan does not control its polio epidemic, it will face stringent travel and visa restrictions, effectively banning Pakistanis from going abroad. Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Saira Afzal Tarar has warned that Pakistan could well become a pariah state if the polio spread is not contained. She went on to say that unchecked migration from North Waziristan, where the disease is most widespread, could result in millions of children being infected across the country. This is truly the stuff of nightmares. The whole world has fought long and hard to eradicate this disabling disease but countries like Pakistan can prove to be a big hurdle in this achievement; why would other countries not ban us? It is criminal just how unconcerned our policy makers are. The extremists have been touting their foolish propaganda that the polio vaccine is a conspiracy of the west to make Muslim children infertile, forbidding people in the tribal areas from having their children inoculated. This has resulted in a rise in polio cases and the threat of an epidemic-like situation. The future of our children is at stake but the nation’s leaders are pitifully slow at taking action. Polio workers who have been working on getting vaccines to children most at risk have been attacked and killed by the jihadis, halting their campaigns. Those travelling to the most dangerous areas must be given protection. The Pakistan Ulema Council has issued a fatwa stating that polio vaccines are not against Islam. Many such steps must be taken to ensure that the disease does not get the better of us. WHO has given us a cut-off date of 2015; we must make sure that we beat this infectious virus before the whole world turns its back on us. *