Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched a special anti-polio campaign to completely eradicate polio from the country.
He inaugurated the campaign across 115 districts nationwide, aiming to vaccinate 30 million children under the age of five against this debilitating disease.
Under the seven-day anti-polio drive, beginning tomorrow, around 286,000 polio workers will go door-to-door to administer polio drops to children.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony in Islamabad this evening, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said we are grateful to the partners and friendly international organizations cooperating with the government to eradicate polio from Pakistan.
He hoped that the federal government, in collaboration with provincial governments and partners, would succeed in completely eradicating polio from the country.
The Prime Minister expressed the confidence that polio eradication efforts will bear fruit.
He commended the efforts of federal and provincial officials, polio workers, and security personnel in the fight against poliovirus. He urged parents to ensure their children under five receive polio drops to protect them from lifelong disability.
He requested the parents to fully cooperate with the polio teams for the safe future of their children. On this occasion, the Prime Minister also administered polio drops to children.
Anti-polio campaign has started in Punjab
As per the health authorities, in the campaign, 139 million children will be administered polio vaccine drops.
The health department officials said that 15 districts of Punjab have been included in the anti-polio campaign including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Chakwal, Attock, Okara, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Multan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan (DG Khan), Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur.
During the anti-polio campaign, drops are also being applied at the crossings.
Khizr Afzal, head of anti-polio program Punjab, said these districts have been selected keeping in view the spread of the virus.
“The campaign will prove to be helpful in stopping the spread of the virus. Eliminating polio is the first priority of the government,” health department said.
