PESHAWAR:Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in partnership with the Institute of Public Health and Social Sciences (IPH&SS) at Khyber Medical University (KMU) marked World Polio Day with a renewed pledge to end polio, improve routine vaccination and build public trust in vaccines.
The event was jointly led by KP Health Secretary Matiullah Khan and KMU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Abdul Jalil. It brought together provincial health officials, EOC and UNICEF representatives, health experts, frontline workers and students to discuss how to protect children from polio through community involvement and joint efforts.
Representatives of UNICEF, WHO, the NSTOP Program, Rotary International, the Gates Foundation and the Pakistan Pediatric Association also attended.
The health secretary said World Polio Day is a chance to review progress, recognize challenges and renew efforts to protect every child from polio. He thanked international partners for their support and hoped it would continue. He also praised polio workers for their hard work and dedication in reaching every child and protecting them from lifelong disability.
UNICEF Peshawar Chief of Field Office Radoslaw Rzehak stressed the importance of vaccination. He said UNICEF would continue to support strong vaccination campaigns, community outreach, efforts to address false information and work to build public trust.
He also highlighted the need for continued cooperation, public awareness and community involvement in the national effort to end polio.
Participants discussed people’s concerns and misunderstandings about polio vaccination. They said public trust can be built by listening to parents, answering their questions clearly and involving community elders, religious leaders, health workers and other trusted people.
They stressed the need for respectful communication, correcting false information and improving routine vaccination alongside special polio campaigns so every eligible child is protected. Participants also praised polio workers, vaccination teams and community outreach workers for their service.
Speakers said frontline workers are central to the effort to end polio and need continued support from institutions and the public, as well as recognition for their work to protect children.
A speech session was also held on ending polio and routine vaccination. It focused on new ways to encourage communities to vaccinate children and on how health workers and future doctors can correct myths and build public trust.
A documentary, “Frontline Heroes – Pakistan’s Journey to End Polio,” was shown to recognize the commitment and challenges of campaign workers.
Additional Secretary Health and EOC Coordinator Sara Rehman thanked KMU for hosting the event and thanked international partners and the Pakistan Pediatric Association for their continued support.
She praised polio workers, saying their efforts had greatly reduced the number of children missed by vaccination teams. She also urged students to promote vaccination in their communities.
In his closing remarks, KMU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Abdul Jalil Khan said that shared responsibility, public awareness and community trust are important to making Pakistan polio-free. He highlighted the role of universities and health institutions in sharing reliable health information.
He also urged parents and communities to cooperate with vaccination teams and ensure that every eligible child receives polio drops during each campaign.
At the end of the event, guests presented certificates and souvenirs to frontline workers and other participants in recognition of their service.
The polio campaign, set to begin on November 2, 2026, in 27 districts of the province, was also launched by giving polio drops to children. More than 4.3 million children are expected to be vaccinated.
About 20,500 polio teams have been formed, and around 30,000 security personnel will protect the teams during the campaign.
Reported By: Our Correspondent I Peshawar
