World Polio Day – Polio outbreak reaches 132 cases in Pakistan;
urgent need to accelerate progress on eradication October 24,
2011, Islamabad - As the world marks World Polio Day, Pakistan
draws world attention as one of only four polio endemic
countries globally. With 132 new polio cases reported in 2011,
there is a serious risk of Pakistan being the last polio
reservoir in the world, imperilling global eradication efforts,
unless progress is urgently accelerated. Despite serious
eradication efforts since the beginning of the year, Pakistan
has continued to see rising numbers of polio cases, with
Balochistan having 54 polio cases FATA (37), Sindh (27), KP
(11), Punjab (2) and Gilgit-Baltistan (1). “We must remember
that behind every number there is the face of a child and a
devastated family” said Dan Rohrmann, UNICEF Pakistan
Representative. “We must end polio now and ensure access to all
children with polio vaccinations as specified in the President’s
National Emergency Action Plan for Polio Eradication in