Hujjaj receive polio vaccination

KARACHI: Hujjaj leaving for Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj are being given mandatory polio vaccination in line with Saudi Government travel regulations, said the officials of Expanded Programme on Immunisation.

They said under the rules, all passengers coming to the Holy Land from Polio endemic countries are required to be vaccinated for polio regardless of their age or vaccination status.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Expanded Programme on Immunisation is vaccinating 177,966 intending pilgrims; 30,211 Hajjaj in Peshawar, 34,159 in Islamabad 45,466 in Lahore, Sialkot and Faisalabad, 41,827 in Karachi, 16,139 in Quetta, 8,709 in Multan and Rahim Yar Khan and 1,465 in Sukkur.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Foundation has announced that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had delivered $15 million of its $30 million commitment to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).

Half of the funds will be used in 2011 by UNICEF for vaccines and by the World Health Organization (WHO) to support campaign operations. The remaining funds will be released in 2012 to support both agencies.

Countries benefiting from the funds include several members of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) countries as Yemen, Somalia and Sudan.

This significant contribution will save thousands of children from the crippling and sometimes deadly effects of polio, President of the UN Foundation Timothy E. Wirth, was quoted to have said.

"This is more than a donation and is a gift that symbolises successful partnership among donors and an investment in health for millions of children," WHO Assistant Director-General for Polio, Emergencies and Country Collaboration, Dr. Bruce Aylward welcomed the contribution.

This new commitment from Saudi Arabia enables the last steps towards the eradication of this ancient disease, and it may inspire others in the region to bring their considerable financial and political support to ending polio and protecting the most vulnerable.

"The fight against polio is a global challenge for all of us," said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake.

In 2011, polio remains endemic in only four countries - Nigeria, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. However, more than 20 countries are affected by the spread of the wild polio virus, and the recent resurgence of the disease in Russia and the Central Asian Republics and very recently in China.

After more than 10 polio-free years it is proof that if the virus is not eradicated everywhere, it can reemerge anywhere.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011