Aseefa calls for commitment to eradicate polio

First Lady of Pakistan Aseefa Bhutto Zardari has called upon the nation to unite in the ongoing battle against polio.

KARACHI:

First Lady of Pakistan and MNA Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, a vocal advocate for polio eradication and daughter of the former Prime Minister Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, has called upon the nation to unite in the ongoing battle against polio. With 39 confirmed cases and 402 positive environmental samples of polio recorded in 2024 alone, the First Lady stresses that the stakes have never been higher for the health and future of Pakistan's children.

"For over two decades, polio has remained a grave threat to the future of our children. Now, more than ever, it is critical that we rally together to protect them through sustained and consistent vaccination efforts," Aseefa Bhutto Zardari stated.

The resurgence of polio in areas like Balochistan, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has underscored the urgency of the situation. Despite three years of progress, where Sindh reported no new cases of polio from June 2021 to June 2023, the virus has once again reared its head. In response, the government has initiated renewed vaccination drives aimed at halting the spread and protecting the lives of millions of children under the age of five.

Aseefa Bhutto Zardari praised the tireless efforts of polio and lady health workers across the country, who are often the unsung heroes in this battle.