On World Polio Day, let us reaffirm the commitment to a polio-free Pakistan where every child can grow up healthy and protected from this preventable disease.
Polio eradication has a special place in my heart. My mother, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, launched Pakistan’s first nationwide polio eradication campaign in 1994 and personally administered the first polio drops to me. That moment marked the beginning of Pakistan’s national effort to eradicate polio and remains a deeply personal part of my connection to this cause.
Pakistan has made progress in the fight against polio, but our work is not yet complete. Every child who misses vaccination remains at risk. We must ensure that no child is left behind, particularly in communities where reaching families can be difficult.
For parents, protecting a child from polio is a decision that can shape that child’s future. I urge all parents and caregivers to welcome polio teams and ensure that their children receive the recommended doses during every campaign. Community elders, teachers and local leaders also have an important role in helping families understand why repeated vaccination is necessary.
I pay tribute to the frontline polio workers, particularly women vaccinators, who reach children in challenging conditions. Their dedication deserves our respect and support. The security personnel who protect vaccination teams also serve an essential role. Attacks on those working to protect our children must not deter us from this national effort.
Polio eradication requires consistent and coordinated efforts by the government, health workers, parents and communities. The work of each must complement the efforts of others, with vaccination campaigns, community engagement and support for frontline workers moving forward in tandem. Every missed child brings us further from our goal. We must continue until every child in Pakistan is protected from polio.
A polio-free Pakistan is within reach, but it will require sustained effort and the participation of every one of us.
