Polio In Lahore.

2022 saw many setbacks in the polio campaign as the virus reemerged in April and reached 20 cases near the end. Now, the NIH has confirmed the detection of the poliovirus from Lahore's environmental samples for the second time. It was detected on the 2nd and then again on the 16th of January. These traces have been drawn to South Waziristan and Afghanistan. This detection also comes a year after the initial 2020 detection.

Prompt detection is always a good thing but it seems that every time we reach a stretch of no cases, a new one is detected. While now it is just an environmental sample, the situation remains just as alarming. The continuous reemergence of the virus is indicative of health and governance challenges that go beyond just repeated immunisations. For example, the campaign faces regular security attacks and little coverage or assistance. Approximately 62 polio workers have been martyred in the process.

The socio-cultural barrier is also a repeated structural disadvantage that is extremely volatile. The continued backlash against immunisation and the lack of female health workers is alarming. 99 percent of women in North and South Waziristan are not...