Two people have lost their lives as a result of an armed attack on healthcare workers conducting a vaccination campaign in northwestern Pakistan.
According to Pakistani media, the armed attack targeted healthcare workers carrying out a polio vaccination campaign in the village of Salarzai, located in the Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, near the border with Afghanistan.
In a statement from security forces, it was reported that 1 police officer and 1 healthcare worker lost their lives as a result of gunfire from armed individuals. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.
Polio cases, which have been eradicated or significantly reduced in many countries thanks to effective vaccination campaigns, continue to be seen in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where access to vaccines remains limited.
Attacks on healthcare workers, which are frequently seen in Pakistan, also disrupt vaccination campaigns.
Pakistan had launched a new polio vaccination campaign at the beginning of the week, announcing that 30 million children would be vaccinated.
News Source: AA
