Vaccine can save children from disability: Assefa

Assefa Bhutto Zardari on the World Polio Day 2022 has requested parents to support the government’s efforts to eradicate polio.

The recent polio cases in Pakistan threaten future generations. Government and authorities must unite and work towards polio eradication, which is something we owe to the future generation, and for that, they must collectively work towards making Pakistan Polio-Free.

“With 20 new cases reported in Pakistan in 2022, the government is being extra vigilant and is trying to reach every child under the age of five to curb the spread of polio virus in the country,” said Assefa.

The back-to-back monthly polio campaigns help ensure Pakistan stay polio-free. Thanks to these campaigns, Sindh has not reported a single case of polio since July 2020, and environmental samples in a primary location are also negative, which is suitable for the programme.

If this momentum continues, the future will be different.

She added that the concerned parties should take new initiatives like creating health facilities to eradicate polio.

The focus should be on childhood immunisation to prevent childhood diseases, the benefits of vaccination, and frequent campaigns. Pakistan is one of the two polio-hit countries in the world, along with Afghanistan.

“Remember, polio has no cure but can easily be prevented through vaccination,” said Assefa Bhutto Zardari, adding that the polio vaccine is the safest and most effective way to save children from polio, and for that, authorities appeal to the public to cooperate with the teams when they reach their doorsteps.