PM kicks off nationwide anti-polio drive

Shehbaz vows to eradicate disease forever in collaboration with provincial govts

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday launched a three-day nationwide polio eradication campaign by administering polio drops to the children in the federal capital.

In a brief ceremony, the prime minister said that a nationwide drive was being started to overcome the resurfacing of the crippling disease.

He said that floods in the summer season had disrupted the national campaign, but despite all those difficulties, the polio workers carried out their responsibility with commitment.

He observed that, unfortunately, Pakistan was among the few countries where polio cases had resurfaced.

A few years back, during the government of Nawaz Sharif, these cases were completely eradicated, he added.

Read: Pakistan committed to eradicate polio, PM Shehbaz tells Bill Gates

The prime minister said that about 20 cases of polio were reported from Waziristan, but due to consistent efforts, they were restricted and controlled and did not spread to other parts of the country.

He also lauded those frontline workers and personnel of law enforcement agencies who had embraced martyrdom for achieving the objectives.

He said that their sacrifices would always be remembered.

“I have the conviction that all the provincial governments along with the federal government will continue collaborating to eradicate the disease forever,” he added.

The resurfacing of the few cases had certainly raised concerns among the partners, including Bill Gates Foundation, World Health Organisation (WHO) and other stakeholders, he added.

Prime Minister Shehbaz said that during a telephonic conversation, Bill Gates had expressed his commitment to support the government’s efforts to eliminate the disease.

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The prime minister also expressed his gratitude to the WHO, stakeholders, related departments, law enforcement personnel and “the daughters” of the nation for their continuous efforts and commitments.

He mentioned that he had held meetings with the federal health ministry officials and others, and the federal and provincial governments were all supporting these efforts.

He expressed confidence that they would control the disease with collective efforts.

Earlier, the premier awarded certificates to the best-performing polio workers.