Army chief lauds Rotary International’s efforts for polio eradication

Gen Qamar meets four-member delegation of the US organisation at GHQ

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has appreciated contributions of Rotary International – a United States organisation with a goal of eradicating polio – in Pakistan’s health sector and hoped that with concerted efforts of all institutions, polio will soon be completely eradicated from the country.

He met a four-member delegation, led by Rotary International President Holger Knaack, at the GHQ in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) read.

During the meeting, matters related to healthcare particularly Pakistan’s commitment for comprehensive polio eradication were discussed.

US issues travel alert for polio-endemic Asian countries

General Qamar appreciated contributions of the US organisation in Pakistan’s health sector and hoped that with concerted efforts of all institutions, polio will be completely eradicated from Pakistan.

Polio has become a tragic epidemic in Pakistan. The polio eradication programme faced special challenges in 2019, which led to resurgence of polio cases during the year.

Last month, the United States generated a Level 2 travel alert for polio-endemic Asian countries, including Pakistan. It also made mandatory the life-time booster dose for adults during the period of restrictions imposed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The new guidelines were issued for travellers bound for polio-endemic countries on the recommendations of its Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to stop spread of the virus to other states.