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Pakistani parents defy Taliban with secret polio vaccines for children Pakistani parents defy Taliban with secret polio vaccines for children
(35 minutes later)
When Amir, a 45-year-old father of five, brings stashes of ice-cooled polio vaccines to his home in an isolated village in Pakistan's tribal belt he takes enormous care not to let anyone know what he is up to.When Amir, a 45-year-old father of five, brings stashes of ice-cooled polio vaccines to his home in an isolated village in Pakistan's tribal belt he takes enormous care not to let anyone know what he is up to.
Only his most trusted friends and relatives know about his secretive efforts to protect the children in his extended family against a devastating disease that has been wiped out in much of the rest of the world. Only his most trusted friends and relatives know about his secretive efforts to protect the children in his extended family against a devastating disease that has been wiped out in most of the rest of the world.
The World Health Organisation warned this week that polio had re-emerged as a public health emergency – with the virus affecting 10 countries worldwide. Pakistan is one of three remaining countries in the world where polio remains endemic.The World Health Organisation warned this week that polio had re-emerged as a public health emergency – with the virus affecting 10 countries worldwide. Pakistan is one of three remaining countries in the world where polio remains endemic.
It continues to flourish in the most violent parts of Pakistan, where the anti-polio drops are regarded with suspicion, vaccination teams are seen as potential cover for spies, and militant bosses are happy to use children as bargaining chips in their efforts to end US drone strikes. It continues to flourish in the most violent parts of Pakistan, where the anti-polio drops are regarded with suspicion, vaccination teams are seen as potential cover for spies, and militant leaders are happy to use children as bargaining chips in their efforts to end US drone strikes.
"If we have confidence in our neighbours and close relatives then we share the drops with them, but only if we know we can trust them," he said."If we have confidence in our neighbours and close relatives then we share the drops with them, but only if we know we can trust them," he said.
Amir is one of several residents of North Waziristan who are willing to reveal their secret defiance of the Taliban's ban on vaccinating children against a disease that can kill or leave lifelong disabilities. Amir is one of several residents of North Waziristan who are willing to reveal their secret defiance of the Taliban's prohibition of vaccinating children against a disease that can kill or leave lifelong disabilities.
"When we heard on the radio that the disease was endemic in North Waziristan we became very worried about our kids," he said. "But it has to be secret because no one can face the Taliban.""When we heard on the radio that the disease was endemic in North Waziristan we became very worried about our kids," he said. "But it has to be secret because no one can face the Taliban."
The region abutting Afghanistan is controlled by militant groups with many different agendas, including fighting the western-backed government in Kabul and demanding Pakistan become a strict sharia state. The region, which borders Afghanistan, is controlled by militant groups with many different agendas, including fighting the western-backed government in Kabul and demanding Pakistan become a strict sharia state.
But in common with Islamist radicals in other parts of the world, some fear the oral drop vaccine is part of a western plot to sterilise Muslim children. But in common with Islamist radicals in other parts of the world, some fear the oral-drop vaccine is part of a western plot to sterilise Muslim children.
In 2012 militant commanders in both North and South Waziristan announced bans on the work of anti-polio health teams in retaliation for the CIA's programme of lethal drone strikes against militants.In 2012 militant commanders in both North and South Waziristan announced bans on the work of anti-polio health teams in retaliation for the CIA's programme of lethal drone strikes against militants.
The warning was effective at terrorising parents from even thinking of cooperating with a campaign already made controversial by the CIA's use of a hepatitis vaccination campaign as cover for hunting down the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden. The warning was effective at terrorising parents away from even thinking of co-operating with a campaign already made controversial by the CIA's use of a hepatitis vaccination campaign as cover for hunting down the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden.
Officials say some even refuse to allow their children to receive drops from health workers operating at checkpoints and bus stations well outside North Waziristan as part of schemes to catch parents when they are away from the influence of militants.Officials say some even refuse to allow their children to receive drops from health workers operating at checkpoints and bus stations well outside North Waziristan as part of schemes to catch parents when they are away from the influence of militants.
But according to heads of families interviewed by the Guardian and doctors working in North Waziristan's few hospitals, some people are taking considerable risks to protect their children from a disease that can cripple or kill. But according to the heads of families interviewed by the Guardian and doctors working in North Waziristan's few hospitals, some people are taking considerable risks to protect their children from a disease that can cripple or kill.
Some take their children on long trips to major cities such as Peshawar, while others take them to medical centres in the North Waziristan towns of Miran Shah and Mirali. Some take their children on long trips to big cities such as Peshawar, while others take them to medical centres in the North Waziristan towns of Miran Shah and Mirali.
"Every day we have children brought in for vaccination," said a doctor in Miran Shah, who said parents would typically bring them in to get treated for other ailments and ask for drops at the same time."Every day we have children brought in for vaccination," said a doctor in Miran Shah, who said parents would typically bring them in to get treated for other ailments and ask for drops at the same time.
"Even then we have to be careful because there is no government writ, even inside the hospital.""Even then we have to be careful because there is no government writ, even inside the hospital."
The government has been ramping up efforts to combat the disease amid threats of countries imposing travel restrictions on Pakistanis.The government has been ramping up efforts to combat the disease amid threats of countries imposing travel restrictions on Pakistanis.
It announced on Tuesday that it would set up mandatory immunisation points at airports to help stop its polio outbreak spreading abroad.It announced on Tuesday that it would set up mandatory immunisation points at airports to help stop its polio outbreak spreading abroad.
There has been a particular focus on the city of Peshawar, which was recently declared to be the largest reservoir of the virus anywhere in the world.There has been a particular focus on the city of Peshawar, which was recently declared to be the largest reservoir of the virus anywhere in the world.
But not only are door-to-door vaccination programmes impossible in places such as North Waziristan, public education campaigns also have little chance of success.But not only are door-to-door vaccination programmes impossible in places such as North Waziristan, public education campaigns also have little chance of success.
"Even if 95% of people are ready for vaccination the 5% who are in favour of the Taliban are much stronger than the ordinary people," said Muhib, another father who has discreetly arranged for his children to be vaccinated. "Even if 95% of people are ready for vaccination, the 5% who are in favour of the Taliban are much stronger than the ordinary people," said Muhib, another father who has discreetly arranged for his children to be vaccinated.
"Even some of my relatives, if they see me with the drops, will inform the Taliban," he said."Even some of my relatives, if they see me with the drops, will inform the Taliban," he said.
Some are angry that militants have sustained the vaccination ban despite a more than four-month hiatus on drone strikes. Some are angry that militants have sustained the vaccination ban despite a hiatus in drone strikes of more than four months.
"People cannot understand why the Taliban are still blocking vaccination when drone strikes are over," said a man called Sajad from Mir Ali. "The disease is rapidly spreading but the Taliban are happy to use our kids as a shield for their protection.""People cannot understand why the Taliban are still blocking vaccination when drone strikes are over," said a man called Sajad from Mir Ali. "The disease is rapidly spreading but the Taliban are happy to use our kids as a shield for their protection."
The US has not publicly announced an end to the programme of remote-controlled strikes against suspected militants but they have privately reassured Islamabad that the CIA will exercise maximum restraint while Pakistan's government holds peace talks with representatives of the country's biggest militant group.The US has not publicly announced an end to the programme of remote-controlled strikes against suspected militants but they have privately reassured Islamabad that the CIA will exercise maximum restraint while Pakistan's government holds peace talks with representatives of the country's biggest militant group.
Although doctors working in North Waziristan say they discreetly vaccinate children every day, or give bottles of vaccine away, no one knows how many families might be involved.Although doctors working in North Waziristan say they discreetly vaccinate children every day, or give bottles of vaccine away, no one knows how many families might be involved.
It is unlikely to be anywhere close to being sufficient – public health experts say almost all children must be covered if the disease is to be eradicated. And in areas of high poverty, malnutrition and disease, a single vaccination is not always a guarantee a child will not get the disease. It is unlikely to be anywhere close to being sufficient – public health experts say almost all children must be covered if the disease is to be eradicated. And in areas of high poverty, malnutrition and disease, a single vaccination is not always a guarantee that a child will not get the disease.
"Many people are ready to vaccinate their children but they have no access to hospitals and can't travel far," said Umar Daraz Wazir, a journalist covering the region. "Without a door-to-door campaign it is very difficult to stop this virus.""Many people are ready to vaccinate their children but they have no access to hospitals and can't travel far," said Umar Daraz Wazir, a journalist covering the region. "Without a door-to-door campaign it is very difficult to stop this virus."