Pakistan is nearing to eradicate polio virus: SAPM Faisal Sultan

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Faisal Sultan has said that Pakistan is nearing to eradicate the Polio.

He was talking with a delegation of Pakistan Polio Eradication Program which called on him and briefed him about details of the polio surveillance review.

“We should not lose this golden opportunity,” the prime minister’s aide said.

Pakistan is engaged in efforts to eradicate the polio virus since 1994, he said. “The country has extremely improved its polio surveillance and controlled the virus with a best strategy,” Faisal Sultan said.

“Despite coronavirus pandemic Pakistan’s anti-polio program has launched best vaccination drives,” he said.

He thanked the team for the best surveillance review adding that all resources are being utilized for a Polio Free Pakistan.

In an earlier statement on social media Faisal Sultan said that only one case of the virus detected in Pakistan in 2021.

Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan and Microsoft founder Bill Gates had a telephonic conversation and exchanged views on the polio eradication campaign.

According to details, PM Imran Khan apprised the philanthropist of the efforts being made to eradicate polio in Pakistan and appreciated the cooperation of Bill and Melinda Gates in eradicating the deadly disease.

PM Imran Khan said that the number of polio cases in Pakistan has come down significantly but efforts are still being made to tackle the disease. The federal government is committed to eradicating polio across the country, he said.