LAHORE: Encouraging gains have been recorded in Punjab’s fight against polio, with a clear decline in poliovirus circulation observed across the province, reflecting improved population immunity and sustained efforts by district health teams.
Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Coordinator and Head of the Punjab Polio Eradication Programme, Adeel Tasawur, shared these remarks while chairing a high-level review meeting of Punjab’s four polio high-risk districts on Thursday.
During the meeting, Tasawur announced that the first national polio vaccination campaign of 2026 will commence across Punjab on February 2, urging district administrations to learn from past gaps and apply those lessons to further enhance campaign quality and effectiveness.
Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that primarily affects children under the age of five and can lead to permanent paralysis. Pakistan remains one of the few countries worldwide where poliovirus transmission has yet to be fully interrupted.
The EOC Coordinator credited district teams for the reduction in positive environmental samples, calling it strong evidence of improved campaign quality and effective field supervision. However, he cautioned that the virus is still present in the environment, stressing the need for continued vigilance — particularly in Rawalpindi, Lahore, and South Punjab.
While acknowledging progress, Tasawur emphasized that key performance indicators of polio campaigns require further strengthening. He highlighted the need to improve frontline worker training, refine micro-planning for mobile and transient populations, and enhance monitoring in remote and hard-to-reach areas.
He also underscored the importance of transparency, directing districts to openly report and address operational challenges rather than conceal them. “Any manipulation of polio data will not be tolerated,” he warned, adding that strict action would be taken against those involved in data falsification.
Tasawur noted that concealing information about missed children could result in renewed virus transmission and instructed teams to immediately vaccinate all zero-dose and missed children. He further directed districts to strengthen coverage plans for riverine areas of South Punjab and ensure intensive focus during catch-up days.
“Punjab’s polio eradication programme remains focused on maintaining high population immunity through repeated vaccination campaigns, strengthening surveillance, and reaching every child — especially those in high-risk, mobile, and underserved communities — to stop virus transmission and achieve eradication,” he said.