Fighting polio under shadow of guns

Polio vaccine being administered in Bajaur subdivision of FATA province in Pakistan

Ashfaq Yusufzai

A healthworker is giving oral polio vaccine to a child

Ashfaq Yusufzai

Health workers carry vaccine bags during Sehat Ka Insaf (Justice for Health) programme in April 2014, when three million children were vaccinated in a single day

Ashfaq Yusufzai

A local lawmaker administers oral polio vaccine to a child in Peshawar

Ashfaq Yusufzai

Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (Movement for Justice Party) Imran Khan gives OPV to a child. Khan's party governs the KPK where the disease is endemic

Ashfaq Yusufzai

A child gets oral polio vaccine in Charsadda, a district where militants have killed four health workers, since December 2012

Ashfaq Yusufzai

To invalidate Taliban’s claim that OPV is against Islam, Pakistan government organised a conference of religious scholars in June 2014 in Islamabad

Ashfaq Yusufzai

A local cleric administers OPV in Bannu district. The government has enlisted support of religious leaders to challenge The Taliban's claim that OPV is against Islam

Ashfaq Yusufzai

By: Ashfaq Yusufzai

We encourage you to republish this article online and in print, it’s free under our creative commons attribution license, but please follow some simple guidelines:

You have to credit our authors.
You have to credit SciDev.Net — where possible include our logo with a link back to the original article.
You can simply run the first few lines of the article and then add: “Read the full article on SciDev.Net” containing a link back to the original article.
If you want to also take images published in this story you will need to confirm with the original source if you're licensed to use them.
The easiest way to get the article on your site is to embed the code below.

For more information view our media page and republishing guidelines.

The full article is available here as HTML.

Press Ctrl-C to copy

<div class="article-wrap">
<div id="article-introduction">
<h1>Fighting polio under shadow of guns</h1>
<h4>By: Ashfaq Yusufzai</h4>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="article-img-gallery" id="image-gallery"><div class="owl-carousel"><div><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/08/5518ed3d9d29c9a6ac000058.jpg' alt='Polio vaccine being administered in Bajaur subdivision of FATA province in Pakistan 
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload' style='--smush-placeholder-width: 900px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 900/558;'><noscript><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/08/5518ed3d9d29c9a6ac000058.jpg' alt='Polio vaccine being administered in Bajaur subdivision of FATA province in Pakistan 
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload' style='--smush-placeholder-width: 900px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 900/558;'><noscript><img src='https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/08/5518ed3d9d29c9a6ac000058.jpg' alt='Polio vaccine being administered in Bajaur subdivision of FATA province in Pakistan 
'></noscript></noscript><p>Polio vaccine being administered in Bajaur subdivision of FATA province in Pakistan </p>
<p><em>Ashfaq Yusufzai</em></p></div><div><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/08/5518ed809d29c956a7000036-848x567.jpg' alt='A healthworker is giving oral polio vaccine to a child 
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload' style='--smush-placeholder-width: 848px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 848/567;'><noscript><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/08/5518ed809d29c956a7000036-848x567.jpg' alt='A healthworker is giving oral polio vaccine to a child 
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload' style='--smush-placeholder-width: 848px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 848/567;'><noscript><img src='https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/08/5518ed809d29c956a7000036-848x567.jpg' alt='A healthworker is giving oral polio vaccine to a child 
'></noscript></noscript><p>A healthworker is giving oral polio vaccine to a child </p>
<p><em>Ashfaq Yusufzai</em></p></div><div><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/08/3-3-wpcf_995x567.jpg' alt='Health workers carry vaccine bags during Sehat Ka Insaf (Justice for Health)  programme in April 2014,  when three million children were vaccinated in a single day
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload' style='--smush-placeholder-width: 995px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 995/567;'><noscript><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/08/3-3-wpcf_995x567.jpg' alt='Health workers carry vaccine bags during Sehat Ka Insaf (Justice for Health)  programme in April 2014,  when three million children were vaccinated in a single day
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload' style='--smush-placeholder-width: 995px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 995/567;'><noscript><img src='https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/08/3-3-wpcf_995x567.jpg' alt='Health workers carry vaccine bags during Sehat Ka Insaf (Justice for Health)  programme in April 2014,  when three million children were vaccinated in a single day
'></noscript></noscript><p>Health workers carry vaccine bags during Sehat Ka Insaf (Justice for Health)  programme in April 2014,  when three million children were vaccinated in a single day</p>
<p><em>Ashfaq Yusufzai</em></p></div><div><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/08/5518ee679d29c9a6ac00005e.jpg' alt='A local lawmaker administers oral polio vaccine to a child in Peshawar
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload' style='--smush-placeholder-width: 640px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 640/480;'><noscript><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/08/5518ee679d29c9a6ac00005e.jpg' alt='A local lawmaker administers oral polio vaccine to a child in Peshawar
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload' style='--smush-placeholder-width: 640px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 640/480;'><noscript><img src='https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/08/5518ee679d29c9a6ac00005e.jpg' alt='A local lawmaker administers oral polio vaccine to a child in Peshawar
'></noscript></noscript><p>A local lawmaker administers oral polio vaccine to a child in Peshawar</p>
<p><em>Ashfaq Yusufzai</em></p></div><div><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/08/6-2-995x486.jpg' alt='Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (Movement for Justice Party) Imran Khan gives OPV to a child. Khan's party governs the KPK where the disease is endemic
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload' style='--smush-placeholder-width: 995px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 995/486;'><noscript><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/08/6-2-995x486.jpg' alt='Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (Movement for Justice Party) Imran Khan gives OPV to a child. Khan's party governs the KPK where the disease is endemic
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload' style='--smush-placeholder-width: 995px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 995/486;'><noscript><img src='https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/08/6-2-995x486.jpg' alt='Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (Movement for Justice Party) Imran Khan gives OPV to a child. Khan's party governs the KPK where the disease is endemic
'></noscript></noscript><p>Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (Movement for Justice Party) Imran Khan gives OPV to a child. Khan's party governs the KPK where the disease is endemic</p>
<p><em>Ashfaq Yusufzai</em></p></div><div><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/08/5518ee299d29c9a6ac00005d-850x567.jpg' alt='A child gets oral polio vaccine in Charsadda, a district where militants have killed four health workers, since December 2012
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload' style='--smush-placeholder-width: 850px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 850/567;'><noscript><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/08/5518ee299d29c9a6ac00005d-850x567.jpg' alt='A child gets oral polio vaccine in Charsadda, a district where militants have killed four health workers, since December 2012
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload' style='--smush-placeholder-width: 850px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 850/567;'><noscript><img src='https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/08/5518ee299d29c9a6ac00005d-850x567.jpg' alt='A child gets oral polio vaccine in Charsadda, a district where militants have killed four health workers, since December 2012
'></noscript></noscript><p>A child gets oral polio vaccine in Charsadda, a district where militants have killed four health workers, since December 2012</p>
<p><em>Ashfaq Yusufzai</em></p></div><div><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/08/5518ef239d29c93ddd00001d-807x567.jpg' alt='To invalidate Taliban’s claim that OPV is against Islam, Pakistan government organised a conference of religious scholars in June 2014 in Islamabad 
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload' style='--smush-placeholder-width: 807px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 807/567;'><noscript><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/08/5518ef239d29c93ddd00001d-807x567.jpg' alt='To invalidate Taliban’s claim that OPV is against Islam, Pakistan government organised a conference of religious scholars in June 2014 in Islamabad 
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload' style='--smush-placeholder-width: 807px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 807/567;'><noscript><img src='https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/08/5518ef239d29c93ddd00001d-807x567.jpg' alt='To invalidate Taliban’s claim that OPV is against Islam, Pakistan government organised a conference of religious scholars in June 2014 in Islamabad 
'></noscript></noscript><p>To invalidate Taliban’s claim that OPV is against Islam, Pakistan government organised a conference of religious scholars in June 2014 in Islamabad </p>
<p><em>Ashfaq Yusufzai</em></p></div><div><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/08/8-4-763x567.jpg' alt='A local cleric administers OPV in Bannu district. The government has enlisted support of religious leaders to challenge The Taliban's claim that OPV is against Islam
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload' style='--smush-placeholder-width: 763px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 763/567;'><noscript><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/08/8-4-763x567.jpg' alt='A local cleric administers OPV in Bannu district. The government has enlisted support of religious leaders to challenge The Taliban's claim that OPV is against Islam
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload' style='--smush-placeholder-width: 763px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 763/567;'><noscript><img src='https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/08/8-4-763x567.jpg' alt='A local cleric administers OPV in Bannu district. The government has enlisted support of religious leaders to challenge The Taliban's claim that OPV is against Islam
'></noscript></noscript><p>A local cleric administers OPV in Bannu district. The government has enlisted support of religious leaders to challenge The Taliban's claim that OPV is against Islam</p>
<p><em>Ashfaq Yusufzai</em></p></div></div></div>
<div id="article-body">
<p>It is polio vaccination day in Bajaur Agency, a subdivision of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in Pakistan along its border with Afghanistan. Parents line up, and as the vaccination team gets ready an unusual sight strikes one’s eye. Armed security guards protect the polio team.<br />
 <br />
This is a new strategy that the Pakistan government has adopted to protect health workers from Taliban militants. FATA is one of the most challenging places to administer polio vaccine.<br />
 <br />
The Taliban have banned polio vaccination in the region since June 2012. The militants have killed 71 people in polio-related incidents since December 2012.<br />
 <br />
Despite regular polio vaccination campaigns since 1994, Pakistan registered the highest number of polio cases at 306 in 2014. In 2015 alone, four cases of polio have already been detected in the neighbouring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region.<br />
 <br />
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says Pakistan, along with Afghanistan and Nigeria are the three countries responsible for the movement of the poliovirus to countries long declared polio-free.<br />
 <br />
Altaf Bosan, head of Pakistan’s vaccination programme says, “A committee comprising of police, army and health officials have been planned that will ensure full protection of the vaccinators. For each three-day door-to-door campaigns, about 5,000 police personnel will be deployed.”<br />
 <br />
WHO recommends 95 per cent vaccination among children under an age of five.  The Pakistani government has been claiming that they have already reached the WHO-recommended target, even though more cases continue to emerge. </p>

</div>
<div class="quick-links-wrapper">
<h3>You might also like</h3>
[related-articles]
</div>
<p>This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.scidev.net" target="_blank">SciDev.Net</a>. Read the <a href="https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/multimedia/fighting-polio-under-shadow-of-guns/" target="_blank">original article</a>.</p>
<script type="text/javascript">
(function(e,t,n,r,i,s,o){e["GoogleAnalyticsObject"]=i;e[i]=e[i]||function(){(e[i].q=e[i].q||[]).push(arguments)},e[i].l=1*new Date;s=t.createElement(n),o=t.getElementsByTagName(n)[0];s.async=1;s.src=r;o.parentNode.insertBefore(s,o)})(window,document,"script","//www.google-analytics.com/ga.js","ga");var _gaq=_gaq||[];var _gaq=_gaq||[];_gaq.push(["_setAccount","UA-3223906-8"],["_trackEvent","article interaction","republished","https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/multimedia/fighting-polio-under-shadow-of-guns/",null,true])
</script>
</div>

It is polio vaccination day in Bajaur Agency, a subdivision of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in Pakistan along its border with Afghanistan. Parents line up, and as the vaccination team gets ready an unusual sight strikes one’s eye. Armed security guards protect the polio team.

This is a new strategy that the Pakistan government has adopted to protect health workers from Taliban militants. FATA is one of the most challenging places to administer polio vaccine.

The Taliban have banned polio vaccination in the region since June 2012. The militants have killed 71 people in polio-related incidents since December 2012.

Despite regular polio vaccination campaigns since 1994, Pakistan registered the highest number of polio cases at 306 in 2014. In 2015 alone, four cases of polio have already been detected in the neighbouring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says Pakistan, along with Afghanistan and Nigeria are the three countries responsible for the movement of the poliovirus to countries long declared polio-free.

Altaf Bosan, head of Pakistan’s vaccination programme says, “A committee comprising of police, army and health officials have been planned that will ensure full protection of the vaccinators. For each three-day door-to-door campaigns, about 5,000 police personnel will be deployed.”

WHO recommends 95 per cent vaccination among children under an age of five. The Pakistani government has been claiming that they have already reached the WHO-recommended target, even though more cases continue to emerge.