Shaheer Ahmed
Pakistan is a country where people are eager to eradicate coronavirus but show reluctance when it comes to polio. Countries all over the world have already gotten rid of this disease but Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only ones remaining. In 2020, Nigeria officially ended polio. However, 27th January 2022, marked one year of polio-free Pakistan. This shows that Pakistan is en route to become a polio-free country.
Pakistan and Polio
Diversity in Pakistan is not just limited to culture but extends to people as well. We have people with different mindsets and opinions. Not that they are wrong but are different. This is what makes Pakistan unique. Although different from each other, we are united as a nation. When it comes to fighting a disease suffered by the whole country the response should be united as well. This paves way for constructive solutions rather than destructive ones.
Where polio should’ve been eliminated long ago, it took years to make people realize that ye beemari dam darood se khatam nahi hogy is kay liye polio kay qatray zaroori hain. Dawa ar dua donoun hi zaroori hain. After more and more people got educated, they strived to get their children polio drops. People stopped hiding their children and started welcoming the polio workers to their houses. However, in backward areas where the literacy rate was low, polio health workers had to fight against threats. Pakistan lagged because of the reluctance experienced in these areas.
Polio workers- The bringers of hope
In Pakistan, polio workers have experienced a hard time. Yet, they carried out their duties to the best of their abilities. They never backed out from helping the country become polio-free. Their services are commendable. Even in the face of death, they were saving a life. Many have lost their lives when they were protecting one from this virus. We need to acknowledge the fact that without them Pakistan would’ve never become a polio-free country. They are worth all the praise and respect. A big salute to all the polio workers out there.
Zeb un Nisa, a polio worker, expressed her motivation behind this good cause as
“We have the fear in mind, but we have to be active to serve our nation,”
“We have to eradicate this disease.”
Not only the polio workers but many of our police officers have embraced martyrdom while protecting the polio workers.
Pakistan saw its last polio case on January 27th, 2021. A country officially attains the title of a polio-free country when it doesn’t encounter a single case for three consecutive years. One is down two to go. Just two more years aur Pakistan bhi hara day ga is virus ko. We just need to keep our hopes high, work towards its eradication and most importantly spread awareness. Polio-free Pakistan ko aam karain ta kay aam banda is ko bura na samjhay.
