Polio in Pakistan

For over 25 years, the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme has been fighting to eliminate the poliovirus. Driven by 260,000 frontline workers, top public health experts, and the world’s largest tracking network, the programme has successfully reduced polio cases by 99% since the 1990s.

• What is Polio?
• Polio is a highly contagious virus that mainly affects young children.

Transmission: It spreads from person to person through contaminated water, food, or poor sanitation.

Impact: The virus attacks the nervous system and can cause permanent, lifelong paralysis.

Symptoms: Early signs include fever, fatigue, headaches, vomiting, and limb pain.

Note: Polio has no cure. It can only be prevented through vaccination.

• Our Mission & Actions
• With Pakistan and Afghanistan being the last remaining areas with active poliovirus, our mission is to make Pakistan 100% polio-free. To achieve this, the programme:

Conducts nationwide door-to-door vaccination campaigns to protect every young child.

Uses sensitive surveillance and testing to track and stop the virus quickly.

Builds community awareness to encourage families to vaccinate their children.