KARACHI: Minister of State for National Health and Services, Regulation and Coordination, Sara Afzal Tarar on Monday said that her ministry is committed to eradicating polio virus from Pakistan. She said that for controlling the crippling virus there was further need of improved and concerted efforts and for that Centre and Provinces were eandeavouring hard.
Drawing more attention to Karachi for preventing the virus as the city had become a spreading source to other areas, she pointed out.
Briefing the media persons after a meeting on Anti-Polio Campaign in Sindh- chaired by Sindh Chief Secretary, Dr. Muhammad Siddiq and attended by Federal Secretary for Health, PM's focal person for National Task Force on Polio Eradication, Sindh Minister for Health, Sindh Health Secretary, Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners-, Chairman Rotary and Anti-polio Committe Aziz Memon at Sindh Secretariat, she said that Prime Minister?s National Health Insurance Program also came under discussion.
PM's focal person for National Task Force on Polio Eradication, Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq on the occasion said that 85 per cent decline in Polio cases had been witnessed in the country.
She said total 43 cases of polio were registered in the country out of those 07 cases were from Sindh province including 02 from Karachi.
Many new innovations and techniques were being used to cope with the challenge,adding that by 2016 the virus would be eliminated.
She said Karachi was being termed as a high risk city in relation to polio virus as the World was voicing concerns over it.
Ayesha said Additional Inspector General of Police (AIGP)-Karachi had given assurance to provide foolproof security cover during anti-polio campaigns in the mega city. Replying to a query on nabbing parents who refuse to get administered polio drops to their children, State Minister said that they were trying to convince the parents as their children could be saved from spending a crippling life.
Answering to another question regarding compensation to polio workers who lost their lives while performing their dutiesin various parts of the country, she said that victims had been compensated as per law. She also appreciated the spirit of Commissioners and Deputy commissioners courage to cope with polio virus.
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