The Pakistan government has suspended the anti-polio drive and post-campaign evaluation following the increasing number of attacks on polio workers in different parts of the country.
The countrywide campaign to administer anti-polio drops to39 million children under five years of age was launched on Monday and Fridaywas the last day following which the evaluation of the drive was to take place.
However, the campaign, involving 260,000 polio workers, raninto trouble after reports that several children were taken to hospital as theyfell sick after being administered the anti-polio vaccine in some areas ofPeshawar.
Following the reports, unidentified gunmen shot deadsecurity personnel escorting a team of polio workers in different incidents innorthwest Pakistan.
In another incident, a female polio worker was killed andanother injured in Chaman area in Balochistan.
Baber bin Atta, focal person to PM Imran Khan on polioeradication, clarified that the vaccine was safe and anti-polio elements werespreading rumours on social media to scare parents.
The National Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) for polioissued a letter asking all the provinces to stop the campaign and preventfurther damage.
“The uncertain and threatening situation for the front linepolio workers has emerged and we need to save the programme from a furthermajor damage,” said the letter issued by the EOC.
For the first time in the history of Pakistan, the government has suspended the post-campaign evaluation, called Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS).