Ninth polio worker attacked in Pakistan dies
- 11 years ago
A Pakistani child is administered a polio vaccination.
It's part of a World Health Organization programme aimed at delivering the polio vaccine to 33 million children in Pakistan.
But the campaign was halted this week after a string of deadly attacks on health workers involved in the programme.
A funeral was held on Thursday for a ninth health worker, who succumbed to his injuries after being shot in Peshawar on Wednesday.
WHO Assistant Director-General Dr Bruce Aylward condemned the attacks.
SOUNDBITE (English) DR BRUCE AYLWARD, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ASSISTANT DIRECTOR-GENERAL - POLIO, EMERGENCIES AND COUNTRY COLLABORATION, SAYING:
"And we need to be very clear that, irrespective of the circumstances of the situation, attacks on health workers, health facilities or health services are completely unacceptable."
It was not clear who was behind this week's violence.
Many Islamists, including Taliban militants, have long opposed the vaccination campaign, with some claiming that it is an effort to sterilize Muslims.
The Taliban have repeatedly threatened health workers involved in the campaign.
But the Pakistan Taliban denied responsibility for the shootings.
Polio is a highly infectious disease that can cause permanent paralysis in a matter of hours.
It's part of a World Health Organization programme aimed at delivering the polio vaccine to 33 million children in Pakistan.
But the campaign was halted this week after a string of deadly attacks on health workers involved in the programme.
A funeral was held on Thursday for a ninth health worker, who succumbed to his injuries after being shot in Peshawar on Wednesday.
WHO Assistant Director-General Dr Bruce Aylward condemned the attacks.
SOUNDBITE (English) DR BRUCE AYLWARD, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ASSISTANT DIRECTOR-GENERAL - POLIO, EMERGENCIES AND COUNTRY COLLABORATION, SAYING:
"And we need to be very clear that, irrespective of the circumstances of the situation, attacks on health workers, health facilities or health services are completely unacceptable."
It was not clear who was behind this week's violence.
Many Islamists, including Taliban militants, have long opposed the vaccination campaign, with some claiming that it is an effort to sterilize Muslims.
The Taliban have repeatedly threatened health workers involved in the campaign.
But the Pakistan Taliban denied responsibility for the shootings.
Polio is a highly infectious disease that can cause permanent paralysis in a matter of hours.