Islamabad, Apr 14 (IANS): Karachi, the financial hub of Pakistan and the capital of Sindh, topped the list of Pakistani cities that refused to vaccinate their children during anti-polio campaigns. This worrying figure was given by the country's Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal. He said, 85 per cent of families refused to vaccinate their children against polio virus. Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Kamal revealed that at least 44,000 families in Pakistan have refused to vaccinate their children with the polio virus vaccine.
"At the moment, in Pakistan, there are 44,000 denial-of-case cases, of which 34,000 are in Karachi alone. It is 85 to 90 per cent. I want to tell everyone in Pakistan that polio is present in Karachi but people are not affected because of prevention. Since the virus is everywhere, if children are not vaccinated for any reason and they get infected with the virus, they will become physically incapacitated. I have come here to explain to you that not vaccinating your children is a crime. " Kamal highlighted that the cases of denial of polio doses are a major challenge in Pakistan. Like Pakistan, Afghanistan is also carrying out an anti-polio vaccination campaign and it is a much larger programme.
"This is the first time that both Afghanistan and Pakistan are conducting a simultaneous polio vaccination campaign. The Taliban have been sending door-to-door teams to vaccinate children. Their program is bigger than ours. Children in Afghanistan are being vaccinated and they will eradicate the virus in a few years. God forbid that we remain the only country in the world affected by polio. Please ignore any misinformation and administer polio medicine to your children. "
Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries in the world where the polio virus is still circulating. One of the reasons for the presence of the virus is that people refuse to get their children vaccinated. Polio health workers have also been victims of targeted killings and attacks by terrorist groups.
Kamal announced that another nationwide polio vaccination drive will begin from April 21, in which at least 4,15,000 polio workers will participate. He urged the citizens to respect him and cooperate with him.
"Please respect them as they strive to protect your children's future," he urged. "