Islamabad, Pakistan - September 11, 2024

The 17th polio case of the year has been confirmed in Pakistan, with a child in Islamabad paralyzed by type 1 wild poliovirus.

The National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for Polio Eradication has launched a targeted vaccination campaign in districts where the virus has been detected and where the risk of continued transmission and spread remains high.

Health authorities have been warning about the continued presence of the virus in the environment. Since June, water samples from Islamabad and neighboring Rawalpindi have tested positive, highlighting the ongoing threat to children's health.

In September, a nationwide polio vaccination campaign was launched that is expected to target 115 districts and aims to vaccinate over 33 million children under the age of five.

Experts say these efforts to reach out to families as well as to provide a clean environment are crucial, especially in areas where the virus is still present.

Shotlist:
Islamabad, Pakistan - Sept 11, 2024:
1. Various of traffic, buildings;
2. Various of polluted water;
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Ayesha Raza Farooq, Prime Minister's Focal Person for Polio Eradication (starting with shot 2/partially overlaid with shot 4):
"We have developed clear coordination and communication channels with our provincial EOCs and district teams. We have had extensive consultative workshops with our high-risk districts to decide on and devise district improvement plans, what are remaining gaps and challenges that the program needs to overcome to move forward and interrupt the virus transmission that we're planning to do by mid-2025.";
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
4. Close-up of hands;
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
5. Various of polio worker working;
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Ayesha Raza Farooq, Prime Minister's Focal Person for Polio Eradication (starting with shot 5/partially overlaid with shot 7/ending with shot 8):
"This September drive is a special campaign. It is targeting 73 percent of our target population, involving 286,000 polio workers that will knock on every door in the 115 districts that we have identified here.";
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
7. Pedestrians;
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
8. Sign of Outpatient Therapeutic Feeding Program;
9. Residents on street;
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Masood Khan Jogezai, Senior Technical Consultant for Polio Eradication (partially overlaid with shots 11-12):
"The Government of Pakistan and the partners will have to improve the essential immunization services so that we cater to the missed children. And then improve case-management of malnourished children, provide clean drinking water, appropriate sanitation and hygiene services at the community level, ensure accountability, implementation of the international staff at the international and national level.";
[SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
11. Various of children;
12. Various of children receiving polio vaccination;
[SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
13. Various of buildings.

[Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]