Eight health workers killed in Pakistan’s three day anti-polio drive

Militants accused health workers of working as US spies.

13:29 20 December 2012

Two vaccination workers involved in a three-day nationwide anti-polio drive in Pakistan were killed in the north western part of the country. This brings the death toll number to eight. On Tuesday, another five workers were killed with one on Monday.

Unicef and the World Health Organization, who are behind the anti-polio drive, suspended the work in the south and north west of Pakistan because of the killings. On Wednesday, the work was suspended nationwide.

Militants opposed immunisation efforts in key parts of Pakistan after a fake CIA hepatitis vaccination campaign - designed to locate Osama Bin Laden - was launched in 2011.

Pakistan, along with Afghanistan and Nigeria, are the only countries in the world where polio is still endemic.

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative entered the country in “emergency mode” as outbreaks in countries which were previously free from polio were seen.

Meanwhile, Pakistani government declares polio a national emergency. However, it is thought that some health workers are now hesitant to join the drive.