ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Friday launched the next round of polio eradication campaign with a resolve to take all measures to rid Pakistan of the crippling disease.
Addressing an event here at the PM House, Gilani said the nation which had the resilience to face the devastating earthquake and the floods, will also rise to the challenge of polio eradication.
The event was attended by Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Mir Hazar Khan Bijrani, Special Assistant to PM and Focal person on Polio-eradication Ms Shahnaz Wazir Ali, ministers and representatives of NGOs.
Prime Minister Gilani said zero-tolerance would be observed against officials and staff found complacent in their duties towards the campaign and strict action would be taken against them.
"There is zero tolerance for under-performance and we will not hesitate for a moment in proceeding against any official found wanting in this drive," Gilani said.
The Prime Minister noted that the polio eradication campaign has been extended and with new systems, innovations and accountability, the quality of campaign was improving.
He said from 42 percent districts reporting 95 percent coverage in 2011, the country has now progressed to 80 percent districts reporting 95 percent coverage which was a marked improvement.
He said steps were also being taken to extend the reach to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas by joint measures of the civil and military officials.
He said extensive measures have been taken to ensure that any child moving in or out of the tribal areas is immunized.
Gilani mentioned that there has been significant improvement in the situation and the country has reported far fewer cases compared to the same period last year as polio virus seems to have been restricted to fewer areas.
The Prime Minister who launched the campaign by administering polio drops noted that the participation of political leadership across party divide at the highest level was a reflection of national resolve to eradicate polio from Pakistan.
The next round of polio campaign from April 23-25 targets over 33.4 million children during this campaign.
Gilani said Polio was a formidable danger to the life and future of the children and can hamper them from realizing their God-given talent.
"We cannot let this disease play havoc with our youth who are future leaders of this nation. I am convinced that no challenge is too daunting to be overcome if there is an unwavering commitment and devotion to achieve the goal," the prime minister said.
He recalled that Shaheed Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto launched the anti-polio campaign in 1994 for the first time in the country when the number of polio cases was 23,500. Asifa Bhutto, who is the Ambassador for Polio Eradication, was the first child who was immunized.
He said a polio-free future was the mission of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.
"I want to assure the world that we would continue to wage struggle against threat of polio until every child of ours has been immunized against the risk of suffering this deadly infection."
The Prime Minister said the National Emergency Action Plan, which was developed in consultation with all provincial governments and the international partners, introduced comprehensive strategies to stop rise in polio cases.
He said a high-level meeting attended by all the Chief Ministers, Governor Khaber Pakhtunkwa and Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) approved the plan, which was launched by the President of Pakistan.
Gilani said the plan was characterized by greater ownership, oversight and accountability mechanisms at the federal, provincial, district and union council levels and proposes strategies to ensure access to troubled areas.
"I am confident that with one hundred percent implementation of the plan, we will be able to control the spread of the polio virus to meet our targets."
The Prime Minister appreciated Punjab for its performance in restricting spread of polio virus, however added that even one case in the low transmission season should be an alarm.
"Unless we prepare for an offensive against this deadly disease, we may see the virus raising its head in other places," he said.
The Prime Minister said he was personally monitoring the polio eradication effort and was confident that the objective of polio-free Pakistan would be achieved with the assistance of partners against the disease.
"I call upon all the Chief Ministers, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Prime Minister of AJ&K to keep this issue on the top of their agenda and ensure their personal involvement and leadership in this campaign," Gilani said.
He also urged media, civil society organizations, parents and society at large to come forward and play their due role by leading awareness campaigns as well as ensuring that every eligible child was reached with polio vaccine during every polio campaign.
He also pointed to the role of the parliamentarians to lead the initiative in their respective areas. The media has a vital role to play in motivating the people and empowering them with the right information, he added.
The Prime Minister also asked the Imams and religious scholars to take up this social responsibility to educate the masses on the rights of the child and duties of parents towards their children as enshrined in the Islamic teachings.
He said Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the last two polio affected Muslim nations on the globe with countries like Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Egypt having eradicated the disease over a decade ago.
"Let us join hands to ensure that every child up to five years of age receives the polio drops when the teams arrive at their homes or from the nearest polio centre," he said.
The Prime Minister said they as a nation must work together and secure the future where Polio can no more inflict the potential of children.
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