Islamabad:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched on Sunday the first nationwide anti-polio campaign, which ran from February 3 to 9 by administering polio drops to children under five and confirming his commitment to removing the disease from Pakistan.
When he spoke at the campaign’s launch, the leader emphasized his willingness to free the country polio.
According to the Associated Press of Pakistan, he said “National Polio Vaccination Drive would target millions of children to save their future and health.”
The prime minister paid tribute to the inauguration of vaccination teams and expressed confidence that they would work “day and night to eradicate the disease and would reach the far -reaching areas and villages”.
He said the teams would bear their responsibilities with “complete energy and commitment”.
In a comment on last year’s figures, Prime Minister Shehbaz complained that 77 polio cases had been reported in the country and called it a major challenge and setback in the fight against the disease.
With reference to the first polio case of the year, discovered last month, the prime minister repeated his unwavering decision to eradicate polio through dedicated teamwork and international cooperation.
He also expressed optimism that Pakistan’s polio-endemical neighbor with continued global efforts-Pakistan’s polio-endemical neighbor would overcome the disease.
Shehbaz recognized contributions from international partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Kingdom of Saudi -Arabia praising their commitment to Pakistan’s polio extermination efforts.
Polio, a very infectious disease that leads to paralysis, has no cure. The only defense against it is several doses of the oral polio vaccine and the completion of routine immunization for all children under five to ensure high immunity.
Pakistan is still one of the last two countries in the world with Afghanistan, where polio is still endemic. Despite the global efforts to wipe out the virus, challenges continue such as security threats, vaccine hesitation and wrong information in preventing progress.
Last year, Pakistan reported over 70 polio cases with traces of the virus detected in nearly 90 districts. The first polio case of 2024 was reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwas Dera Ismail Khan District.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister visited the residence of the National Assembly (NA) speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in Lahore Sunday.
He held a meeting with the speaker, who also attended Na -Vice President Ghulam Mustafa Shah and members of the National Assembly (MNAS) Khursheed Shah and Shazia Marri.
The prime minister extended cordial congratulations to the deputy speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah at the wedding with his son and offered his best wishes and blessings for the newlyweds.
Other prominent members of the National Assembly were also present on the occasion.
