Anti-polio drive to be held from 23rd to 29th
A vaccinator administers the polio vaccine to a child in the Mahmoodabad area of Karachi on the first day of the week-long anti-polio drive that kicked off on Monday. Photo: Express
In view of emerging cases, Pakistan has decided to hold an anti-polio drive across the country from May 23 to May 29.
The campaign was previously limited to a few areas but will now be rolled out across the country, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health said.
Federal Minister for Health Abdul Qadir Patel has also spoken about the government’s commitment to eradication of polio.
“All possible steps will be taken to eradicate polio,” he said.
The health minister said that he has formulated an effective and integrated strategy for elimination of the crippling disease.
He added that the government is working hard to free the country of polio.
Patel urged parents to have their children vaccinated against the disease during the anti-polio campaign.
Read Govt vows to eradicate polio as 3rd case surfaces
He also called upon members of civil society and media fraternity, and religious scholars to play their role in eradicating polio from the country.
“We must all work together to eradicate polio,” he said. “Ending polio is our religious and moral duty.”
The authorities have launched a nationwide anti-polio drive after the third case of polio was confirmed this year. This recent surge in cases follows a 15-month break, wherein no new infection was recorded.
Pakistan has also approved a new five-year polio eradication programme at a cost of $789.7 million, which will be funded by a $192.5 million loan from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and grants of $606 million from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).
It is worth mentioning here that Pakistan is one of the two remaining countries in the world where polio is still endemic. The other country is Afghanistan.