ZUBAIR QURESHI
Islamabad
The Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme has announced a 28 per cent increase in the daily stipend of frontline polio workers, with the revised rate taking effect from the upcoming polio vaccination campaign.
The announcement comes ahead of the next Sub-National Immunization Days (SNID) campaign, which will be conducted from September 21 to 27 across 115 districts nationwide.
According to the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), the decision follows a series of listening sessions held with frontline polio workers over the past few months. During these sessions, workers directly shared their views, suggestions and concerns with senior programme leadership.
The consultations provided an opportunity to better understand the challenges faced by frontline workers and incorporate their feedback into programme planning. Following the listening sessions, the programme decided to enhance the workers’ daily stipend by 28 per cent.
According to Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq the increase is a recognition of the hard work, dedication and invaluable services rendered by frontline polio workers.
“Frontline polio workers are playing a critical role in Pakistan’s efforts to achieve a polio-free future,” she said.
She said the workers remained at the heart of Pakistan’s eradication efforts and continued to play a vital role in reaching children in communities across the country.
Ayesha Raza Farooq said more than 31 million children will be vaccinated against polio during the upcoming campaign.
She urged parents and caregivers to extend full cooperation to vaccination teams and ensure that every child under five years of age receives the polio vaccine during the campaign.
“Complete eradication of polio requires collective efforts, and parents must extend full cooperation to polio teams,” she said, stressing the importance of ensuring that no child is missed.
The government has repeatedly emphasized the role of frontline workers in reaching children in both urban and hard-to-reach areas. The latest stipend increase is aimed at acknowledging their contribution while responding to concerns raised directly by workers during the recent consultation process.
The continued engagement with frontline workers would remain an important part of strengthening Pakistan’s polio eradication campaign and ensuring effective vaccination coverage, said a senior official of the programme.
