The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) has announced a nationwide anti-polio campaign from October 13 to 19, aiming to protect over 45 million children under the age of five from the life-altering disease.

According to the NEOC, more than 400,000 dedicated health workers will take part in the week-long drive across the country, ensuring every child receives the oral polio vaccine (OPV) along with an additional dose of Vitamin A to strengthen immunity.

The campaign reflects Pakistan’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding every child’s right to a healthy, polio-free future.

Provincial data shows that more than 23 million children in Punjab, 10.6 million in Sindh, 7.2 million in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 2.6 million in Balochistan will be vaccinated.

In Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, over 1.5 million children will be reached.

Health authorities have urged parents and caregivers to cooperate fully with polio teams and ensure that every eligible child receives the drops.

They also appealed for the completion of routine immunisations to protect children from other preventable diseases.

Pakistan remains one of only two polio-endemic countries in the world, alongside Afghanistan.

Despite significant progress in previous years, the number of polio cases in 2025 has risen to 29 — a reminder that the fight against polio requires unity, awareness, and compassion from all.