A child receiving polio vaccination. (Photo: (c)UNICEF Ethiopia/2005/Heger via flickr)
Nov 26, 2014
Four health workers who were part of a polio vaccination team were killed in Pakistan on Wednesday.
According to media reports, gunmen riding motorbikes near the southwestern city of Quetta opened fire on a vehicle carrying a vaccination team of three women and three men.
The attack killed the three women and one man, and, according to reporting by Agence France-Presse, three other women were also wounded.
Reuters described the event as "the most deadly attack on health workers in two years."
Pakistan joins Nigeria and Afghanistan as being on the list of just three countries in the world where the incurable and crippling disease remains endemic. But, according to reporting by UPI, Wednesday's attack "is being considered part of a targeted campaign" by some in the country against a polio vaccination drive.
Contributing to mistrust of polio eradication efforts and legitimate health workers is the CIA's false vaccination campaign conducted as part of the hunt for Osama Bin Laden. Earlier this year, a spokesperson for Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized that scheme for fueling the "negative perception" about vaccination efforts.
The World Health Organization (WHO) stated this month that the "international spread of wild poliovirus continued to constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern," a rare designation it first made in May.
The WHO warns: "Failure to eradicate polio could result in as many as 200,000 new cases every year, within 10 years, all over the world."
Dr. Margaret Chan, head of the WHO, said in September: "Pakistan is the single most important stumbling block along the road to ending polio, once and for all. Right now, a massive polio outbreak is sweeping across the country. Worldwide, nearly 9 out of every 10 children paralyzed by polio live in Pakistan. In numbers, that means 166 from Pakistan out of this year's global total of 178 cases. Think about it. These figures are dramatic."
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Four health workers who were part of a polio vaccination team were killed in Pakistan on Wednesday.
According to media reports, gunmen riding motorbikes near the southwestern city of Quetta opened fire on a vehicle carrying a vaccination team of three women and three men.
The attack killed the three women and one man, and, according to reporting by Agence France-Presse, three other women were also wounded.
Reuters described the event as "the most deadly attack on health workers in two years."
Pakistan joins Nigeria and Afghanistan as being on the list of just three countries in the world where the incurable and crippling disease remains endemic. But, according to reporting by UPI, Wednesday's attack "is being considered part of a targeted campaign" by some in the country against a polio vaccination drive.
Contributing to mistrust of polio eradication efforts and legitimate health workers is the CIA's false vaccination campaign conducted as part of the hunt for Osama Bin Laden. Earlier this year, a spokesperson for Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized that scheme for fueling the "negative perception" about vaccination efforts.
The World Health Organization (WHO) stated this month that the "international spread of wild poliovirus continued to constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern," a rare designation it first made in May.
The WHO warns: "Failure to eradicate polio could result in as many as 200,000 new cases every year, within 10 years, all over the world."
Dr. Margaret Chan, head of the WHO, said in September: "Pakistan is the single most important stumbling block along the road to ending polio, once and for all. Right now, a massive polio outbreak is sweeping across the country. Worldwide, nearly 9 out of every 10 children paralyzed by polio live in Pakistan. In numbers, that means 166 from Pakistan out of this year's global total of 178 cases. Think about it. These figures are dramatic."
Four health workers who were part of a polio vaccination team were killed in Pakistan on Wednesday.
According to media reports, gunmen riding motorbikes near the southwestern city of Quetta opened fire on a vehicle carrying a vaccination team of three women and three men.
The attack killed the three women and one man, and, according to reporting by Agence France-Presse, three other women were also wounded.
Reuters described the event as "the most deadly attack on health workers in two years."
Pakistan joins Nigeria and Afghanistan as being on the list of just three countries in the world where the incurable and crippling disease remains endemic. But, according to reporting by UPI, Wednesday's attack "is being considered part of a targeted campaign" by some in the country against a polio vaccination drive.
Contributing to mistrust of polio eradication efforts and legitimate health workers is the CIA's false vaccination campaign conducted as part of the hunt for Osama Bin Laden. Earlier this year, a spokesperson for Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized that scheme for fueling the "negative perception" about vaccination efforts.
The World Health Organization (WHO) stated this month that the "international spread of wild poliovirus continued to constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern," a rare designation it first made in May.
The WHO warns: "Failure to eradicate polio could result in as many as 200,000 new cases every year, within 10 years, all over the world."
Dr. Margaret Chan, head of the WHO, said in September: "Pakistan is the single most important stumbling block along the road to ending polio, once and for all. Right now, a massive polio outbreak is sweeping across the country. Worldwide, nearly 9 out of every 10 children paralyzed by polio live in Pakistan. In numbers, that means 166 from Pakistan out of this year's global total of 178 cases. Think about it. These figures are dramatic."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.