‘Province accepts polio eradication challenge’

CM says we must take practical steps in order to save our children

QUETTA: Jam Kamal, the chief minister of Balochistan, has said his government has accepted polio eradication initiative as a challenge and is taking concrete measures to stop advances of the crippling virus with the help of United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef).

“The crippling virus is endangering future of our children. It can’t be eliminated through temporary measures or just photo session. We must have to adopt practical steps in order save our children from getting affected by polio,” Kamal said on Friday.

The CM was meeting with the Polio Eradication Programme Technical Advisory Group Chairman Dr Jean Marc Oliver, who called on him to discuss the measures to eradicate the viral disease.

The wild poliovirus has been eliminated across the world except for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative reported that Pakistan saw 5 additional wild poliovirus type 1 cases in the past week, bringing the total for 2020 to 17. The cases include four in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and one in Balochistan. Pakistan reported 144 cases in 2019.

The CM lauded support of Unicef and other donors agencies for polio eradication programme and said an effective immunization programme could save our children from polio and other fatal diseases.

“Health department is utilizing all resources in order to ensure availability of vaccinators and vaccines in all health centers while more initiatives are taken for making health units functional

“We have appointed a separate additional director general health for strict monitoring of immunization programme launched in the province,” he added.

Dr Oliver appreciated the efforts of the government and pledged Unicef’s full support in health sector. Secretary Health Mudassir Waheed Malik and Coordinator Emergency Operation Centre Rashid Razaaq were present in the meeting.

Visit to Chagai

The CM on Friday also visited district Chagai and met with Khan of Chagai Khan Muhammad Ibrahim Sanjrani at the Sanjrani House in Nukandi as well as tribal elders.

Speaking on the occasion, the CM said the government has been taking initiatives to uplift the deprived people of Balochistan and natural wealth of district Chagai will be used for provincial development.

He said the government has started development projects in all districts of Balochistan as development and prosperity is his government’s key mission.  “As compared to the previous governments, today Balochistan is moving towards development by leaps and bounds,” he added.

Vowing to change face of Balochistan in the next five years, Kamal said the coalition government’s ministers and advisers have been working day and night with honesty. He described his cabinet as the best team able to put Balochistan on path of prosperity.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 23^rd, 2020.