In a remote village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, a young boy named Ahmed, barely three years old, became the latest victim of polio. His story, tragically, is far from unique.

Despite the availability of polio vaccines in Pakistan, Ahmed’s paralysis could have been prevented if not for the combination of cultural resistance, security challenges, and misinformation that plague polio eradication efforts in the country. His parents, influenced by rumours circulating in their community, refused the vaccine, believing myths that the shots could cause infertility or were part of a foreign conspiracy. It wasn’t until Ahmed’s legs began to show signs of paralysis that the devastating reality of polio set in.

Ahmed’s case is a grim reminder of the barriers that still prevent Pakistan from eradicating polio. Pakistan, alongside Afghanistan, remains one of the last two countries in the world where polio continues to spread.

While the global community has made significant strides toward polio eradication, Pakistan’s progress remains fragile. In 2021, Pakistan recorded a historic low of just one case of wild poliovirus (WPV), raising hopes that eradication was within reach. The optimism unfortunately proved short-lived as cases surged again in the following years, including a major outbreak in North Waziristan in 2022, which resulted in 20 confirmed cases. However, by the end of 2024, the number of infected patients has risen to 68, signalling that the battle against polio is far from over. This highlights the urgent need to reassess the current polio eradication strategy and adopt a more integrated approach encompassing hygiene and sanitation.

Polio mainly spreads via the faecal-oral route. The factors behind this persistent transmission are multifaceted: poor sanitation, unhygienic practices, vaccine resistance, security concerns, and inadequate governance play significant roles. The situation is particularly dire in areas like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Balochistan, where higher case numbers are linked to health infrastructure challenges and vaccination access.

The continuing presence of polio in the country points to deep-rooted issues that extend beyond health interventions, including........

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