Over seven million children to be vaccinated against polio in KP this month

PESHAWAR - The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government inaugurated its September anti-polio campaign on September 20, 2026. Jointly led by Health Minister Khaliqur Rehman and Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, the drive will span the province from September 21 to 27. Over 35,000 polio teams, security personnel, and other agencies will participate, targeting the vaccination of 7.3 million children across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The campaign's goal is to reach every child with polio drops to eradicate the disease. Health Minister Khaliqur Rehman appealed to social media activists and the public to actively participate. He also acknowledged the progress made compared to last year, attributing it to the Chief Secretary's personal monitoring. Three polio cases reported this year originated from areas with security concerns, making access difficult.

To ensure every child is reached, special campaigns were conducted in Upper South Waziristan, Lower South Waziristan, North Waziristan, and Bannu. Additional measures include recruiting 2,400 doctors and procuring essential medicines, with all costs covered by the government. A roadmap has been developed to strengthen routine immunisation efforts.

The polio threat extends beyond Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as the presence of the virus in neighboring Afghanistan poses a risk of cross-border transmission. The government urges the media and social media to raise public awareness, emphasizing the importance of reaching children in poor and underserved areas.