PTI MPA pledges to make Balochistan polio-free

The MPA emphasises need for widespread support to eradicate disease

Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI)  MPA Umar Khan Jamali on Tuesday pledged to make Balochistan polio-free.

Jamali pledged his"full support" while visiting Quetta's Emergency Operation Centre (EOC).  “Polio workers have been fighting the virus head-on and their resolve has encouraged us to intensify our battle against the virus," he said.



The MPA praised those working at the facility. He said the government could not singlehandedly eradicate the virus. "We need widespread support to eliminate the disease from our soil."

EOC provincial coordinator Syed Faisal Ahmed told the MPA the  organisation had been striving to eradicate the crippling disease. “We have been striving to ensure all children under five are immunized against polio,” Syed Faisal said. He added that the organisation has successfully contained incidence of polio across much of Balochistan.



Earlier this week, an eight-day Injectable Polio Vaccination (IVP) campaign was initiated across two high-risk polio districts of Balochistan. The provincial government aims to vaccinate 207,454 children across Quetta and Pishin under the initiative.

Three new polio cases have been reported across Balochistan since the start of 2018. Quetta, Killa Abdullah and Pishin districts have been declared high-risk areas where the virus still persists.