Pakistan fights polio

They walk through the streets of Karachi with small blue coolers, and a heavily armed police escort.

They're polio workers in Pakistan where delivery and dissemination of the vaccinations has become a life threatening job.

The number of cases in the country has spiked to over 200 this year- a 14 year high, and that's partly due to a ban on the vaccine enforced by the Taliban

Militants believe the vaccinations are part of a Western plot to sterilise children- so healthcare workers administering the drugs have become targets.

Sixty-four people have been killed in attacks on polio teams and their security escorts since 2012.

This woman said she was forced to flee after receiving a death threat by gunmen who later killed five of her colleagues.

Government officials say the lack of security and general mismanagement of the crisis is causing a snowball effect.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) , ADVISOR TO THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT ON POLIO, SHAHNAZ WAZIR ALI, SAY