NWFP Minister for Health, Inayatullah has said that efforts for wiping out polio had entered its last phase, hoping that the target of ensuring a polio free province would be achieved till next year.
He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the first round of polio campaign during the current year at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar on Monday. Veteran politician, Begum Nasim Wali Khan was chief guest on the occasion, while DG Health Dr Jalilur Rehman, MNA Shabbir Ahmed Khan, medical experts, health workers, social and political figures attended the ceremony.
The health minister said that Pakistan was among those unfortunate countries where poliovirus was still existing.
He said that though polio cases had dropped to considerable level in the province, however, he lamented over failure in its complete eradication despite organised efforts.
Highlighting present government's strategy for controlling of polio disease, he said that efforts were being taken to involve the whole community in the drive so that no child could be deprived of polio drops.
Referring to the participation of Begum Nasim Wali Khan in the ceremony, the health minister said that her presence clearly indicated that our politicians were united on issues of national importance.
The minister urged upon the managers of the polio campaign and health workers to run the campaign with national zeal and ambition to achieve the target of eradicating the disease within the stipulated period.
The chief guest Begum Nasim Wali Khan, Unicef Chief for NWFP, Osama Makkavi and WHO consultant Dr Rodi Tangermam also addressed the function.
It is worth mentioning that 1,500 team would took part in the current campaign to be run from 20th to 22nd of this month in NWFP and tribal areas, while 5.541 million children of below two years would be administered polio drops.
More than 300,000 Afghan children residing in NWFP would also be provided polio vaccines.
Comments
Comments are closed.