Polio cases in Afghanistan and Pakistan exceed 80, says WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that since the beginning of this year, 81 cases of polio, also known as childhood paralysis, have been recorded in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

In a message posted on X/Twitter on Monday, December 2nd, the organization stated that, during this period, 25 cases of polio were identified in Afghanistan and 56 others in Pakistan.

Currently, Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries in the world where polio has not been eradicated, and the disease continues to claim the lives of children.

In the latest development, WHO reported two new cases of polio in the provinces of Urozgan and Helmand in Afghanistan, and one case in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.

Yesterday, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, in cooperation with the Islamic Development Bank, announced a donation of three million dollars to support the fight against polio in Afghanistan.

According to statistics from the International Organization for Migration, more than 67,752 children in Afghanistan have received polio vaccinations in the past year, supported by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

This continued prevalence of polio in Afghanistan and Pakistan highlights the ongoing challenges in fully eradicating the disease in these regions. Despite global efforts, including financial support and vaccination campaigns, obstacles such as insecurity, cultural resistance, and logistical issues remain significant hurdles to achieving complete eradication.

However, the efforts being made, such as the recent funding from Saudi Arabia and the support of international organizations, provide hope for progress. By continuing these initiatives and addressing the underlying challenges, there is still a chance for these two countries to eliminate polio and protect future generations from its devastating effects.

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