PM says polio eradication a religious, moral & national duty

Urges every section of society to play role in complete eradication of polio

ISLAMABAD (ANN): Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Monday said that eradicating polio was a religious, moral and national duty.

Launched the five-day anti-polio vaccination drive targeting around 44 million children across the country, the prime minister said, “We will win the anti-polio war with the determination to make the country polio-free.”

The prime minister initiated the campaign by administering anti-polio vaccine oral drops and vitamin A to children, here at the PM House.

Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister said 350,000 polio workers would participate in the drive to administer anti-polio vaccine to 44 million children aged 0-5 years.

He termed the polio workers as the nation’s heroes who braved challenges while making the anti-polio drive successful. He also mentioned the support of the international partners in helping Pakistan to eradicate polio.

The Prime Minister also appealed to the religious scholars to fully support the polio eradication campaign.  He expressed the commitment that Pakistan will definitely win the fight against the polio virus.

“It is our religious, moral, and social responsibility to save our future generations from this crippling disease,” he said. “We have to make Pakistan free from polio.”

Interim Health Minister Dr Nadeem Jan and senior officials were present.

A seven-day anti-polio campaign begins across the country today.

Over forty million children are being administered anti-polio vaccine along with supplementary dose of vitamin A during the campaign.

Caretaker Minister for Health Services Dr Nadeem Jan has urged parents to fully cooperate with the vaccination teams and ensure that their children are vaccinated.

In Punjab, the polio immunization campaign will be continued for seven days in Rawalpindi, Lahore and Faisalabad, and five days in other districts.

In a statement today Caretaker Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Health Care Dr Jamal Nasir said during the polio campaign, 21.2 million children will be vaccinated and 204000 polio workers will participate in the campaign.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the campaign is launched in five divisions including Peshawar, Malakand, Hazara, Mardan and Kohat Divisions.

More than seven million children up to five years of age being inoculated during this phase of vaccination.

The second phase of the anti-polio drive will begin from next Monday in Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan Divisions.

All provincial chief ministers and chief secretaries informed the meeting about the current situation of the provinces and the government efforts. The meeting was also informed that Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan provinces, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir had bee completely free from the polio virus, however two cases were reported in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Caretaker Health Minister Dr Nadeem Jan, top officials of National Task Force, chief ministers of all provinces, chief secretaries and other high officials of concerned departments attended the meeting.