Polio: Introduction
In 1988, when polio became a worldwide threat, there were 350000
cases of wild polio across 125 countries; this meant that 1000
children were disabled for life. This disease is spread via droplets
of the infected when they sneeze or cough, through the feces of the
infected, or by drinking contaminated water or food.
While many countries were prosperous in fighting this deadly virus,
some still need help vaccinating their populations. There are only
two countries across the globe that are still unable to fight this
virus: Pakistan and Afghanistan.
In Pakistan, people still die of polio, even in the rich regions of
Punjab. The highest number of cases recorded in Pakistan in the past
five years is in 2020, with 135 cases across Pakistan. All these
children are "zero-dose children," which means they received no shot
of the vaccine; these children either die or get paralyzed for life.
Afghanistan also suffers from the same problem—five cases of polio
paralysis in children, which is an increase from two reported
infections in 2022. Right now, Afghanistan has reported its lowest
peak in polio-confirmed instances in history. Case numbers are down
in 2023, but there is no doubt that there are still children in
Afghanistan who are also "zero-dosed."
Why do countries still immunize their populations to fight polio?
Extremism
There is only one solid explanation for why these countries still
struggle to vaccinate their populations:
Religious misconceptions.
This religious conflict in the tribal areas of Pakistan is one of
the biggest hindrances to effective polio vaccination.
Extremism can pose a significant challenge to polio vaccination
campaigns in various parts of the world. Extremist groups, driven by
ideological or political motivations, have at times targeted
healthcare workers and vaccination teams, leading to the suspension
or disruption of vaccination programs. These actions not only
endanger the lives of healthcare workers but also hinder efforts to
eradicate polio. Overcoming this issue requires effective security
measures, community engagement, and trust-building to counter
extremist narratives and ensure that life-saving vaccines can reach
vulnerable populations. Addressing the intersection of extremism and
public health is crucial to global efforts to eradicate polio and
safeguard the well-being of communities affected by this preventable
disease.
Both Afghanistan and Pakistan are victims of the extremist ideology
of the molvis. According to them, polio vaccinations will make their
men and women infertile, which will lead to the downfall of
Islamization.
Politics
While this happens, there are other factors, such as the political
unrest in Pakistan and, consequently, the cause of the Taliban rule
in Afghanistan.
With the dirty politics and illiberal democracy going on in
Pakistan, the government cannot focus or concentrate on factors such
as providing health facilities in the rural areas or developing
roads so that NGOs willing to get the population vaccinated could
reach their destinations, such as places in Balochistan and Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa.
Children in Afghanistan face a lack of health facilities, not just
in the polio case but in general. The main reason for Afghani
children not getting their vaccine for polio is the fact that the
Taliban have banned all UN-donated vaccines in the regions they
control, like Paktia, Paktika, Zabul, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Ghazni, and
many more.
What should we as a society do?
We can all agree that the leading cause of polio still being a
significant threat to these developing nations is the lack of
awareness and educational facilities in such areas. The UN should
take measures not only to vaccinate the children but for their
education as well. Camps should be set up, and NGOs should also
participate. Education is a critical factor. If people don't realize
the importance of polio vaccines, then it will be against their
will, violating their rights.
Eradicating polio is one of the UN's public health priorities, as
outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The goal is to
achieve a polio-free world, a significant milestone in public health
and global development. While considerable progress has been made,
challenges such as vaccine hesitancy, access to remote and
conflict-affected areas, and, as mentioned earlier, extremist
threats continue to be addressed in the fight against polio. The
UN's commitment and collaboration with governments, organizations,
and communities are critical in these efforts.
Sources
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30026033/
https://carnegie-production-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/static/files/taliban_winning_strategy.pdf
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(21)00336-0/fulltext