A helping hand: Transporters vow to help eradicate polio

LAHORE:

Major transporters on Wednesday agreed to support polio-eradication efforts at permanent transit sites in the Punjab and provincial border crossing points.

The pledge was made at a meeting of health authorities with nine transport companies, including Rehbar, Baloch, Ahmad, Daewoo Express, Malik Travels, New Khan, Chaudhry group and MVE.

Adviser to Chief Minster on Health Khwaja Salman Rafique chaired the meeting, attended by Health Director General Zahid Pervez, Health Additional Director Dr Nazir, Health Executive District Officer Dr Zulfiqar and Transport Secretary Shaukat Ali.

Ali said transporters could play an important role to eliminate polio.

“Out of the 325 bus stands, 120 are operated by the government. We extend different facilities there”, he said.

Pervez said nine polio drives had been arranged in the Punjab this year.

“Anti-polio campaigns should not be limited to houses. We have to also focus on children who are on the move,” he said.

The transporters agreed to supervise the health teams deployed at the polio counters at their bus stands.

Rafique said every child would be vaccinated at the transit points. “Only a family affected by polio can understand the pain it renders,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2014.