‘No polio case in twin cities but threat still remains’

Awareness walk held to educate masses on dengue and polio


​ Our Correspondent October 25, 2019
PHOTO: FILE

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD: Even though no case of polio has been reported in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi in the past decade, the threat of polio remains with environmental samples testing positive for the virus, speakers stated at an anti-polio seminar. Walks against the crippling virus were also held in the twin cities.

Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Saifullah Dogar, while addressing a World Polio Day seminar at the Holy Family Hospital (HFH) on Thursday, said that they continue to find polio in environmental samples taken in the city, signifying that the threat continues to lurk in the city.

However, he credited field teams of the health department in playing a critical role in controlling the poliovirus in the city due to which the children of Rawalpindi are now safe and whole.

Addressing another seminar on polio at the Government Post Graduate College for Girls, the DC said that polio and dengue pose a challenge for the people of Rawalpindi. In this regard, he stated that a comprehensive strategy has been evolved which is being implemented with support from all segments of society.

He urged said students to spread awareness about polio and dengue to every home and play their role in helping eliminate these diseases.

Earlier, Rawalpindi Commissioner Saqib Zafar and Punjab Health Secretary Captain (retired) Muhammad Usman led a walk to create awareness about dengue and polio. The walk was jointly organised by the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) and District Administration on Sixth Road.

Zafar told participants of the walk that apart from creating awareness about the importance of successful polio campaigns, misleading propaganda about polio drops should also be discouraged.

He suggested that dengue has been controlled through effective policies and active participation of all government departments but further efforts were required to control the disease in the future and avert damage to human lives.

The health secretary said polio and dengue are both harmful to humans. Dengue, he said, could be life-threatening and the poliovirus can render a child crippled for life.

"We need an effective policy and participation of all segments of society to fight against polio and dengue and protect our children and family," he said.

He said due to a drop in temperature, dengue patients should decrease. However, the concerned departments will remain vigilant as per the SOP throughout the year to ensure effective control of the virus in the future.

Wasim new polio ambassador

Having terrorized out some of the best batsmen for much of the 90s, legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram on Thursday signed on as an ambassador of the national polio eradication programme.

This was announced by the Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Zafar Mirza on Thursday after Akram had signed an agreement with the Polio Eradication Programme.

His main task will be to create awareness amongst the masses about the crippling disease and muster their support for the effective execution of immunization drives across the country by participating in polio vaccination awareness programmes.

"It is our top priority to protect children from polio. Up to 260,000 polio workers are the true heroes of the polio programme," said Dr Mirza. He hoped that Akram will play a vital role in ending polio from Pakistan.

"All political parties should play their role in ending polio as all children have the right to be protected from the virus," Akram said, as he urged the nation to join the fight against polio.

"Two drops of the anti-polio vaccine are the only source of prevention."

Published in The Express Tribune, October 25th, 2019.

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