Follow Us on Google News
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said that ‘Polio-free Pakistan’ is an utmost priority and urged the citizens to cooperate with polio teams for the complete eradication of the crippling disease from the country.
“This is a testing time with the resurgence of recent polio cases and the related security incidents, but we can and will overcome it,” he said at the launch of the nationwide anti-polio drive.
With access to several areas of the country virtually cut off due to flash floods, this anti-polio campaign has become all the more challenging. However, complacency is not an option. Grateful to our global partners, particularly Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for their support.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) August 19, 2022
The drive kicked off as the prime minister administered drops of polio vaccine to the children under five years of age, here at the Prime Minister’s House. The current anti-polio campaign for Karachi and six districts of southern Khyber-Pakhtunkwa started on August 15, while the National Polio Vaccination Drive will commence on August 22.
The prime minister vowed to get the country free from polio, which he said was affecting the children in some areas.
He regretted that polio was one of the few countries in the world where polio was still recognized as an endemic viral infection.
He urged the parents not to miss getting their children administered the polio drops and support the government’s goal to make Pakistan polio-free.
