Polio workers performing in extreme weather are heroes: PM

The viral video of Iran has left every individual with a sense of awe and pride, says the premier

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan once again hailed polio worker Irfan, whose video trudging through deep snow to immunise children in the country’s northern areas recently went viral, and thousands of other polio workers as heroes who reach out to children with polio vaccines in extreme weather conditions.



The premier took to Twitter on Thursday and said, “Irfan is one of 260,000 heroes who reach out to children with polio vaccines in extreme weather conditions. His viral video has left every individual with a sense of awe and pride.”

Irfan is one of 260,000 heroes who reach out to children with polio vaccines in extreme weather conditions. His viral video has left every individual with a sense of awe & pride. This dedication is what will enable us to achieve our goal of a polio free nation #SalamPolioWorker pic.twitter.com/4wPBxIDUDz

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 31, 2019

“This dedication is what will enable us [Pakistan] to achieve our goal of a polio-free nation #SalamPolioWorker,” Prime Minister Khan continued in his tweet.

On Wednesday, the prime minister met Irfan and other polio workers who rose to fame after braving Swat’s snowy mountains to immunise children.



Focal person to PM Khan on Polio Eradication Babar Bin Atta and Health Minister Amir Kiyani were also present in the meeting that held at the PM House. A strategy to eliminate the debilitating disease was discussed in the meeting.

Polio teams work through out the year to protect your child against polio and it is to their tireless efforts and unmatched dedication to which we owe our progress. Thank you to our heroes - our polio workers. #endpolio pic.twitter.com/0dYZtUz9dr

— Pak Fights Polio (@PakFightsPolio) January 26, 2019

The polio eradication campaign in Pakistan has faced many challenges, from the refusal of parents to administer the drops to attacks on polio teams by militants.

Polio (poliomyelitis) is a highly infectious debilitating virus that targets the nervous system of children, causing partial or complete paralysis of their limbs.

Pakistan's polio workers travel long distances to make sure that every child is protected from polio, no matter where they live in Pakistan.#Pakvspolio #ForEveryChild #RightToHealth #PakFightsPolio Photo via @pakfightspolio #VaccinesWork #PolioWorkers pic.twitter.com/BSINGV92IL

— UNICEF Pakistan (@UNICEF_Pakistan) January 27, 2019

Since 1988, reported polio cases worldwide have declined by more than 99 per cent, but the virus remains endemic in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria.