Context:
A security official was killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, when unidentified gunmen attacked a polio vaccination team conducting an immunisation drive in Swat district.
Key Highlights / Details:
- Incident Details:
- The attack occurred in the Arkot area of Swat district during an ongoing anti-polio campaign.
- Officer Abdul Kabir, assigned to protect the health workers, was killed on the spot.
- The assailants escaped, prompting a search operation led by local police.
- Targeting of Health Workers:
- Polio vaccination teams in Pakistan have often been targeted by extremist groups, who falsely claim that vaccination drives are Western conspiracies.
- These attacks pose a significant challenge to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
- Official Response:
- District Police Officer (DPO) Muhammad Umar confirmed the incident and reinforced the need for enhanced protection during future drives.
- The government reiterated its commitment to continuing the immunisation campaign despite security threats.
- Background:
- Pakistan, along with Afghanistan, remains one of the last countries where wild poliovirus continues to circulate.
- The region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed repeated attacks on polio workers and their escorts over the past decade.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI): A public–private partnership launched in 1988, led by WHO, UNICEF, Rotary International, CDC, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
- Polio-Endemic Countries: As of 2025, Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only countries with endemic wild poliovirus.
- Swat Valley: Located in northwestern Pakistan; once controlled by militants opposing vaccination efforts.
Relevant Mains Points:
- Public Health and Security Intersection: Challenges faced in implementing health programmes amid insurgency and misinformation.
- Governance and Social Trust: The role of community engagement and awareness in countering vaccine hesitancy.
- Global Cooperation: Significance of international support in sustaining eradication efforts under volatile conditions.