ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for collective efforts to eradicate polio from the country.
Chairing a meeting of National Task Force on Polio Eradication, the prime minister assured that the federal government would extend every possible assistance and cooperation in this regard.
Shehbaz Sharif voiced his concerns over the detection of recent polio cases in the country. He said all the stakeholders including federal departments, provincial governments and international organizations have rendered valuable services for eradication of polio from the country.
The prime minister thanked international organizations including World Health Organization (WHO), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for extending technical and financial support to Pakistan’s anti polio campaign.
The meeting was informed that three polio cases were reported in North Waziristan during the months of April and May this year. It was informed that 25 districts of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are at high risk regarding the spread of poliovirus. No polio case was reported in the period between February 2021 and March 2022.
The prime minister directed the provincial governments to fully focus on anti-polio campaign. He said there is a dire need that all the stakeholders work with renewed spirit and passion for eradication of the virus.
Polio campaign
The government has decided to start a nationwide immunization campaign from May 23 to May 29, keeping in view the reporting of three polio cases this year.
In a message, Minister for Health Qadir Patel said, “Government of Pakistan remains committed to eradicating polio and focusing on well-coordinated efforts at both the federal and provincial level to realize the dream of making Pakistan a polio-free country.”
He stressed the important role of parents and caregivers in the success of repeated vaccination campaigns. He said it is every Pakistani’s national duty to ensure that their own children and others are administered the polio vaccine in each campaign.
He said that the wild poliovirus remains in the environment in certain districts, posing a threat to the resurgence in cases. “We are calling all parents and caregivers to cooperate with vaccinators as no child is safe until all children are vaccinated.”
He said that the polio vaccine is safe and it helps to build immunity among children against the poliovirus. The polio vaccination campaigns are imperative for building immunity among children and preventing possible death or lifelong paralysis, he added.
He said unvaccinated children are at risk and they need to ensure all eligible children are vaccinated during each campaign “It is time to be more vigilant to reach the target of polio-free Pakistan.”
