Latest news with #polio
Arab News
16 hours ago
- Arab News
Pakistani province probes alleged sale of UNICEF-tagged soap for anti-polio campaign
PESHAWAR: Authorities in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province are probing the alleged sale of soap bars, which were provided by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for the country's campaign against polio, at a market in Peshawar, officials said on Friday. The comments came after the seizure of over 200 soap bars at the Faqeerabad market in the provincial capital, which bore the 'not-for-sale' marking, according to Additional Assistant Commissioner Azimullah Mehsud. The local administration acted on a tip-off about UNICEF-tagged soap bars being 'diverted' to the open market. A preliminary investigation suggested the consignment originated in the southern Sindh province. Authorities arrested a shopkeeper on June 25, who was selling these soap bars on Facebook and in the local market in the northwestern Pakistani city. 'According to initial investigations, he [the suspect] said these [soaps] were being supplied to him from Sindh,' Mehsud told Arab News. 'The person we have arrested posted them on Facebook and said he is an Afghan national.' He said the UNICEF-tagged soaps were recovered by the city administration and handed over to the anti-corruption department of the city circle for further investigation. 'The suspect allegedly sold these soaps to buyers who would then change the packaging and supply them to various locations, including Jalalabad, an eastern province of Afghanistan, and inside Pakistan such as Dera Ismail Khan district,' he continued. Asked about the tip-off, he said: 'We were told that they have 20,000 cartons.' Mehsud said the authorities recovered three cartons during the raid, with a total of 216 soap bars. He informed the suspect claimed to have additional stock. 'Authorities suspect a large network may be involved [in the activity], but investigations by the anti-corruption department is expected to shed more light on the matter,' he added. Arab News reached out to UNICEF's communication specialist, Zia-ur-Rehman, for comment but did not receive a response. Meanwhile, the anti-corruption department plans to send an open letter to UNICEF and the Sindh provincial administration to further investigate the matter. One of its officials, Humayun Khan, confirmed to Arab News that his department had launched an investigation into the case. Polio is a paralyzing disease with no cure, making prevention through vaccination critical. Multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine, along with completion of the routine immunization schedule for all children, are essential to build strong immunity against the virus. Pakistan, one of the last two countries where polio remains endemic, made significant progress in curbing the virus, with annual cases dropping from around 20,000 in the early 1990s to just eight in 2018. The country reported six cases in 2023 and only one in 2021. However, Pakistan witnessed an intense resurgence of the poliovirus in 2024, with 74 cases reported. According to Pakistan's polio program, 13 cases of the virus have so far been confirmed this year.
Zawya
a day ago
- Health
- Zawya
Angola responds strongly to the polio virus emergence
In response to a recent polio outbreak in Benguela province, Angola has launched a polio vaccination campaign. The campaign aims to protect over half a million children and reaffirm the country's commitment to eradicating disease. During the launch ceremony, Dr Fekadu Lemma, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) coordinator in Angola, said, 'This campaign is an act of protection, solidarity, and hope for Angola's future. Polio is not only an invisible threat, but it can also cause permanent physical damage, such as paralysis.' Despite significant progress since the interruption of the wild poliovirus in 2011 and Angola being certified polio-free in 2015, the country now faces a new challenge. The outbreak has resulted in 13 confirmed poliovirus cases in Benguela, Cubal, Dombe Grande, and Bocoio municipalities. In response, the Ministry of Health, supported by the WHO and GPEI partners, is conducting an intensive door-to-door vaccination campaign from 27 to 29 June. The campaign aims to vaccinate over 554,000 children under the age of five. Dr Cátia Katchiuko, the deputy governor for economic and social affairs of Benguela province, reinforced the government's commitment: 'This campaign is a clear demonstration of our dedication to the health and well-being of our children. With the support of our partners, we have made great progress, but we know that the mission is not yet complete. Eradicating polio is a collective struggle — and we are all in this together.' In accordance with the GPEI, the World Health Organization (WHO) has defined five strategic steps to ensure the successful eradication of polio in the country. These steps include: a) Strengthening routine immunization, with a focus on children who have not received any doses; b) Conducting high-quality campaigns with independent monitoring and rapid corrections; (c) Strengthening polio surveillance, including surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis and environmental surveillance; (d) Increasing community involvement by engaging local, religious and traditional leaders; and (e) Ensuring the sustainability of actions by integrating lessons learned from polio into other public health programmes. The vaccination campaign in Benguela province is part of this approach, given the province's importance in the context of the polio outbreak, which poses the highest risk of spreading at national and international levels. This is especially pertinent given the province's population density, history of poliovirus circulation, and its role as a logistics hub for other provinces. Around 5,000 people, including health professionals and community volunteers, have been mobilized for the current polio vaccination campaign, with an investment of approximately $3.6 million, mainly funded by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative through WHO and UNICEF. The WHO Representative in Angola, Dr Indrajit Hazarika, concluded: 'As a father, I know that vaccinating a child is an act of love. It guarantees them a fundamental right and opens the door to a healthier and more promising future.' 'Polio does not respect borders, but neither should our determination. Every child vaccinated brings us closer to a polio-free future. Eradicating polio is possible, but only if all levels of government, partners, and communities work together. We cannot stop now. Our generation will be remembered for having the courage to complete this mission.' Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) - Angola.
Arab News
3 days ago
- Health
- Arab News
Authorities recover 20,000 soap bars for anti-polio campaigns being sold illegally in Peshawar
PESHAWAR: Pakistani authorities on Wednesday recovered 20,000 soap bars provided by the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) for exclusive use in anti-polio campaigns after they were found being illegally sold in the northwestern Peshawar city, the UN agency said. Authorities seized the soap bars in a raid conducted at the city's famous Sabzi Mandi area, with UNICEF raising serious concerns about the diversion of humanitarian supplies to the open market. 'The seized consignment included approximately 20,000 soap bars, reportedly marked for exclusive use in Polio Campaigns,' the UN agency said. UNICEF said provincial officials believe it is highly unlikely that such a large-scale misappropriation could have occurred without either the 'active involvement or gross negligence' of personnel within the provincial Health Department and UNICEF's local and national operations. 'Further investigations are underway to determine how the supplies were diverted from official distribution channels to Open Market,' the statement said. 'Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of collusion by insiders or lapses in oversight mechanisms.' UNICEF said the incident underscored the critical need for greater accountability and monitoring in aid distribution processes, particularly in sensitive public health programs like the polio eradication campaign. Polio is a paralyzing disease with no cure, making prevention through vaccination critical. Multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine, along with the completion of the routine immunization schedule for all children, are essential to build strong immunity against the virus. According to Pakistan's polio program, 10 cases have been confirmed so far this year, with 74 reported in 2024. Pakistan, one of the last two countries where polio remains endemic, has made significant progress in curbing the virus, with annual cases dropping from around 20,000 in the early 1990s to just eight in 2018. The country reported six cases in 2023 and only one in 2021.
Forbes
5 days ago
- Health
- Forbes
Trekking Far And Wide To Eradicate Polio In Pakistan
A look at the dedicated health workers crossing Pakistan to reach 45 million children in one week with the lifesaving polio vaccine, with support from UNICEF and Rotary International. A husband and wife health worker team ride camelback to deliver the polio vaccine to children on their route in Pakistan. The couple is part of a massive national campaign to vaccinate 45 million children under 5 against wild poliovirus. Four decades ago, wild poliovirus paralyzed hundreds of children every day, with an estimated 350,000 cases in more than 125 countries. Today, polio is on the brink of eradication with just two endemic countries left: Afghanistan and Pakistan. The path to this remarkable public health milestone began in 1988 when UNICEF, Rotary International and other partners formed the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) to spearhead a massive vaccination campaign that has decreased cases globally by over 99 percent. GPEI, along with national government and community health partners, vaccinates 400 million children against polio every year. These campaigns prevent an estimated 650,000 cases of paralysis and save up to 60,000 children's lives each year. This immersive video follows teams of vaccinators in Pakistan as they traverse the country, by any conveyance necessary — on foot, by motorbike and even camelback — to reach children living in the country's most remote areas. In less than one week, 45 million children under 5 will be visited, identified and vaccinated against polio. Watch the video to see polio vaccinators in action UNICEF and Rotary International are working together to create a polio-free world for children Until polio transmission is eliminated in every country, all countries remain at risk. To fully eradicate polio, no child can be missed and there is no time to lose. Ending polio will be a historic public health milestone, making polio the second infectious disease, after smallpox, to be certified eradicated. Because of the experience, support and partnership of UNICEF and countless Rotary members across the decades powering and driving forward millions of dedicated vaccinators, we are almost there. Learn more about UNICEF and Rotary International's longstanding partnership. UNICEF does not endorse any brand, company, organization, product or service.
Arab News
20-06-2025
- Health
- Arab News
Pakistan reports new polio case in northwest, raising 2025 tally to 12
KARACHI: Pakistan's polio eradication program on Friday said a new wild poliovirus case had been detected in the country's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, bringing the total tally of 2025 cases to 12. Polio is a paralyzing disease with no cure, making prevention through vaccination critical. Multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine, along with the completion of the routine immunization schedule for all children, are essential to build strong immunity against the virus. The country conducted three nationwide vaccination campaigns in February, April and May, aiming to immunize around 45 million children across Pakistan with the support of over 400,000 frontline workers including 225,000 women vaccinators. 'The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health, Islamabad, has confirmed a new case of wild poliovirus in District Bannu, South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,' the body said in a statement. 'The 33-month-old male child from Union Council Shamsikhel, District Bannu is the sixth case of polio reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa this year.' Pakistan has reported 12 polio cases so far this year, including six from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, four from the southern Sindh province and one each from the populous Punjab province and the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region. Pakistan, one of the last two countries where polio remains endemic along with Afghanistan, has made significant progress in curbing the virus, with annual cases dropping from around 20,000 in the early 1990s to just eight in 2018. However, the country reported an alarmingly high number of 74 cases in 2024, after six in 2023 and only one in 2021. Health Minister Mustafa Kamal on Thursday claimed that Pakistan has recorded a 99 percent decline in polio cases, as he urged global vaccine organization Gavi to invest more in efforts to 'train and retain' vaccinators. Pakistan launched its polio eradication program in 1994, but its efforts have repeatedly been hindered by widespread vaccine misinformation and resistance from hard-line religious groups who claim immunization campaigns are a Western conspiracy to sterilize Muslim children or a front for espionage. Militant groups have also targeted polio workers and police officials providing them security, often with deadly attacks that have hampered vaccination drives, particularly in the country's remote and conflict-prone regions.
