Officials and health workers in Pakistan are gearing up for a nationwide vaccination drive to eradicate polio as the country faces a resurgence of cases.
The campaign is scheduled to begin on Oct. 28. However, violence targeting health workers and the police protecting them continues to hinder efforts to eradicate the disease.
"The World Polio Day is a reminder for us to see the great and recognize the great sacrifices that have been made by polio workers, and I would like to use this day to recognize our real heroes, who are our front-line polio workers as well as the security personnel," said Ayesha Raza Farooq, Pakistani Prime Minister's Focal Person for Polio Eradication.
Pakistan has reported 39 new polio cases since January, a sharp increase from just six cases last year.
The upcoming nationwide campaign aims to vaccinate children in a renewed push to make Pakistan polio-free.
"We are very hopeful that through these campaigns, we are hoping to reach every child below the age of five in Pakistan, approximately 45 million children in the national campaign, then we should be in a good position to reverse the current epidemiology that we see, by the end of this year," said Farooq.
Afghanistan and Pakistan are the last two countries where polio remains endemic. Pakistani health officials are urging both countries to synchronize their anti-polio efforts to curb the spread of the disease on both sides of the border.
Experts say renewed commitment, stronger vaccination drives and continued community engagement will be key to ensuring that future generations can live in a polio-free world.
Polio is a disabling and life-threatening disease caused by poliovirus, which can infect a person's spinal cord, leading to paralysis.
Every year on Oct. 24, the World Polio Day is observed to raise awareness of the importance of polio vaccination to protect every child from this devastating disease and to celebrate the many parents, professionals, and volunteers whose contributions make polio eradication achievable.
Pakistan gears up for polio vaccination campaign to battle resurgence of cases
Pakistan gears up for polio vaccination campaign to battle resurgence of cases
Pakistan gears up for polio vaccination campaign to battle resurgence of cases
A cold front has brought snowfall and freezing temperatures across many parts of China, disrupting transportation and prompting emergency responses. On Sunday morning, many places in Handan City of north China's Hebei Province have experienced snowfall.
The province on Sunday activated a Level-IV emergency response for major meteorological disasters in preparation for incoming heavy snowfall.
According to the provincial meteorological observatory, heavy snow is forecast to hit areas including Shijiazhuang, Cangzhou and Hengshui from day to night on Sunday. Some regions may experience blizzard conditions.
Forecasters warn that the severe weather will disrupt transportation, urban services, and greenhouse agriculture.
Local authorities have been urged to closely monitor weather conditions, enhance risk assessment, and eliminate potential safety hazards.
China has a four-tier emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe response.
Starting early Sunday morning, a new round of snowfall began in areas such as Qingyang City and Dingxi City in northwest China's Gansu Province.
In order to ensure smooth traffic and people's normal life and production, local departments have made coordinated efforts to clear snow from roads.
Local traffic police have also increased presence at key areas to direct traffic and ensure timely response to emergencies.
In addition, widespread snowfall affected the northern parts of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, posing challenges to urban transportation and railway operations.
Traffic police and city departments are mobilizing to clear roads and ensure safe travel for residents.
Railway authorities also implemented pre-arranged snow-response plans, using equipment such as wind-powered snow blowers and de-icing equipment to clear key sections of track and prevent switches from freezing.
The current round of snowfall in the northern parts of Xinjiang is expected to end on March 2. Some areas in east China's Shandong Province also experienced heavy snow on Sunday. At 11:00, the provincial weather service issued yellow warnings for icy roads.
At the Mount Tai scenic area in Tai'an City, the weather transitioned from a mix of rain and snow to snowfall during the day. As of 15:00 on Sunday, the average precipitation had reached 18.9 millimeters, with the snowfall still ongoing. To ensure the safety of visitors, the scenic area has decided to suspend all access routes starting from 16:00. On Sunday morning, cold air prompted snowfall in many places of north China's Shanxi Province. The Shanxi Provincial Meteorological Observatory issued a yellow alert for blizzard, covering areas such as Jinzhong City, Linfen City, and Yuncheng City.
Icy road conditions led to temporary traffic restrictions on several highway sections.
Local authorities promptly activated emergency response plans, deploying crews for snow removal and traffic control.
Snowfall hits many parts of China, affecting transportation
