Raises concern over rising polio cases in Sindh

Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has voiced concern over the rising number of polio cases in Sindh and has instructed authorities to submit a detailed report on families refusing vaccinations, according to the health ministry. Official data shows that Pakistan has reported six polio cases in the first three months of 2025, with four cases emerging from Sindh.

During his visit to the provincial Emergency Operation Center (EOC) in Karachi, Kamal emphasized the need for urgent measures to tackle vaccine refusal. The health ministry stated that the minister expressed serious concern over the four polio cases reported in Sindh.

Highlighting the scale of the issue, Kamal revealed that 43,000 individuals in Sindh had refused vaccination, with approximately 42,000 of them based in Karachi. He was also briefed on the ongoing polio immunization efforts and the obstacles health authorities are facing. Stressing that polio eradication is a national priority, he urged officials to utilize all available resources to combat the virus.

Polio is a highly contagious disease that can cause paralysis and has no cure. Health experts emphasize that multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine, along with routine immunization for children under five, are essential for protection.

Last year, Pakistan recorded 74 polio cases. The government has scheduled three major polio vaccination drives in the first half of 2025, with the next rounds set for April and May.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries where polio remains endemic. Efforts to eliminate the virus have been hampered by misinformation and opposition from certain religious hard-liners who claim the vaccination campaign is a foreign agenda. Additionally, polio teams often face violent attacks from militant groups, creating further obstacles in the fight against the disease.