After 18 months polio raises its head in Karachi again

KARACHI: The reoccurrence of polio in Karachi after a gap of 18 months is heartbreaking, especially after all the efforts that were made, striving to make Karachi polio-free said Dr Sikander Ali Mahendro on Friday after a fresh case was detected in the city. 

The story of seven-month-old Qasim whose life will never be the same, because of his grandfather refused the administration of polio drops at birth, is equally heartbreaking. 

Qasim's parents belong to the Aka Khel tribe and hail from Tora Bora, they resettled after displacement in Village Sher Khan/Madina Colony in UC 13 Gulshan, Karachi. The colony due to its residents is also known informally as Village Tora Bora.

When Qasim was born, it was his grandfather who forbade polio immunization drops from being given to him. It was a matter of only two drops that could have given Qasim a healthy future. 

Seven months later when immunisation teams happened by Qasim's house again, the grandfather was not home. He was away on pilgrimage for Hajj. 

In his own father's absence, Qasim's father gave the go ahead for immunizing his now seven-month-old son. At the same time, the team took a stool sample for testing. 

For Qasim, it was already too late. 

For Karachi and Mahendro the reoccurrence is heartbreaking for another reason as well. 18-months was literally the half way mark before Karachi could be declared polio free. 

The same sorrow is visible even at the Emergency Operation Centre for polio in Sindh. 

Coordinator EOC Sindh told Geo News, "It is heartbreaking that this child has contracted polio, his family would always refuse the polio vaccine and we were only able to vaccinate this child on one occasion. If he had been vaccinated on multiple occasions he would not have had to suffer the scourge of polio."

"We have repeatedly been asking parents to come forward to vaccinate their children, we hope that others can learn from this, as our children are our future and we should never compromise on matters related to their health. We appeal to parents, protect the future of your children.”

While the reoccurrence of polio is a great setback, the teams are ready to restart the counter until the city is declared polio-free. 

Earlier, the metropolis was known as the largest reservoir of polio in the world with as many as 23 new cases being reported annually. 

The efforts of the EOC have helped contain the outbreak through innovative strategies such as hiring educated female workers. These strategies have been acclaimed by the international community as well. 

EOC appeals to the public, the media, influencers, everyone who can help raise awareness through the re-emergence of polio in the city to make parents stop playing with their children's futures. To help eradicate polio completely which is only possible through multiple immunizations. 

Coordinator at EOC Sindh, Fayaz Jatoi to Geo.tv, “we have repeatedly warned that despite the progress made we have still not reached the finish line, our workers must keep up their efforts and communities need to understand that they must vaccinate their children during every campaign until they are 5 years of age. It is only then that we can get rid of this virus and until we get rid of it completely, it will attack children with low immunity.”