Anti-polio drives: LHC seeks more detailed report

Petition seeking legislation for administration of the polio vaccine and storage as per international standards.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday rejected a Health Department report about arrangements made for the eradication of polio and directed the department counsel to file a more detailed report by July 2. Justice Umar Ata Bandial was hearing a petition seeking legislation for administration of the polio vaccine and storage of the vaccine as per international standards. Petitioner Rana Ijaz submitted that the government launched an anti-polio campaign every year but had passed no legislation on the important issue. He said that one of the reasons the campaigns failed every year was the absence of the legislation. He said that the polio vaccine was not stored properly, which rendered it ineffective. He said that there had been at least 16 cases of polio reported in Pakistan this year.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25^th, 2012.