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Polio: turning point
 [Dawn] AROUND this time last year, approximately 48,000 families in Pakistain had refused vaccinations. In 2013, that number stands at 65,947.On the eve of World Polio Day 2013, this highlighted an ever-increasing trust deficit between the government and the parents of at-risk children in outlying communities, a deficit that is costing Pak lives. We are at a strange turning point, where our indisputable success is marred by our unfortunate failures. The polio ...Poliomyelitis is a disease caused by infection with the poliovirus. Between 1840 and the 1950s, polio was a worldwide epidemic. Since the development of polio vaccines the disease has been largely wiped out in the civilized world. However, since the vaccine is known to make Moslem pee-pees shrink and renders females sterile, bookish, and unsubmissive it is not widely used by the turban and automatic weapons set... eradication campaign's numbers are certainly impressive on paper. 33.4 million children under the age of five are targeted for vaccinations. Over 200,000 people assist in a campaign that stretches across the country in 102 districts. But inefficiency, deep-seated corruption, lack of proper security for health workers and inaccessibility to certain regions continue to act as a debilitating counterweight to the immunisation efforts. Chief among these, compromised access between children and health workers is what truly gives polio free rein. Pages 115 through 127 of the Abbottabad ... A pleasant city located only 30 convenient miles from Islamabad. The city is noted for its nice weather and good schools. It is the site of Pakistain's military academy, which was within comfortable walking distance of the residence of the late Osama bin Laden.... Commission Report narrate how Dr Shakeel Afridi latched his work on hepatitis with local vaccination campaigns. The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP) has mandated that they are not against vaccinations in general, nor do they oppose comprehensive health for Mohammedans. Instead, they are wary of potential spying being conducted under the ruse of vaccinations. But the truth, as always, goes deeper than that. State Minister for Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Saira Tarrar recognises the political acumen behind this narrative. "The Death Eater elements recognise that there is a lot of international pressure on Pakistain to eradicate polio, and so they are using this to their advantage by clubbing other demands with this issue," she says. "Through peace talks or any other means, immunisation must start in the tribal belt, or this problem will rapidly get out of control." Posted by: Fred 2013-10-29 |
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