Another four polio cases surfaced taking tally of crippling virus victims to 12 in the ongoing year, 24 News reported on Saturday.
The new cases were reported in slummier areas of Sindh and KP where health officials faced hostility. Hundreds of health workers were killed in extremist attacks while anti-polio campaigns are dubbed ‘part of Western plot’ against Muslims.
Hundreds of children missed immunisation last year because of poor planning and people distrust. Amidst a campaign, rumours about hospitalising scores of children resulted in damaging the drive. Announcements were made from mosque to misguide parents.
The fresh report came to spotlight a couple of weeks before the launch of a ‘compressive’ anti-polio campaign. Officials claimed they are prepared well to fight polio and the issue will visible.
An anti-polio programme consists of three national, three sub-national and some special campaigns in a year to immunize 40 million children in the country.