Sir: Poliomyelitis, often called polio or infantile paralysis, is an acute, viral and infectious disease. The term ‘poliomyelitis’ is used to identify the disease caused by any of the three serotypes of poliovirus. Two basic patterns of polio infection are described: a minor illness, which does not involve the central nervous system (CNS), sometimes called abortive poliomyelitis, and a major illness involving the CNS, which may be paralytic or non-paralytic. The disease leads to lifetime frailty, which can only be prevented by means of a proper polio vaccination. Normally, there are two types of polio vaccines used all over the world to combat polio. On October 24, 2013, on World Polio Day, different seminars were organised to raise awareness regarding this deadly disease as Pakistan is among those countries where it is still existent.
This issue demands utmost efforts at the governmental level but the self-proclaimed guardians of Islam consider its vaccination to be a tactic by the west to increase infertility in Muslim children. The future of our generation is at stake and the government has shown no concern. As a result, the Taliban have banned polio vaccinations in their areas and have threatened all the vaccination staff. Polio workers are brutally being killed by the Taliban to halt their anti-polio campaign. The Darul Afta in Pakistan has finally issued a fatwa in support of polio vaccines as these polio drops are not harmful in any way. This issue requires proper attention as many people have lost their lives during the anti-polio campaign.
SOBIA AMIR
Islamabad