Polio poses threat to economic outlook: PM

Prime Minister Imran Khan launched the last National Polio Eradication Campaign of the ongoing year on Friday by administering polio drops to children of less than five years of age, saying that polio-free Pakistan is critical for economic development and promotion of tourism.

Speaking after the launch of polio-free campaign, the Prime Minister stated this disease is threat to the positive economic outlook of the country as well as the government's efforts to promote tourism. The Premier termed it a grave challenge for the country and urged the mothers whose children are less than five years of age to get them administered polio drops for the country.

The Premier thanked international donors and stated that it is regrettable that Pakistan falls in the list of two countries having polio. He said that this disease poses grave repercussions for the country and create problems for those Pakistan working abroad or seeking employment opportunities aboard as the country is dubbed as polio exporting country.

He described 260,000 polio workers across the country as heroes because they have been travelling from deserts to hilly mountains to administer polio drops to the children for the bright future of the country.

Earlier, speaking at the ceremony, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza stated that this is the last national campaign to administer polio drops to 39.6 million children in the next three days. He said that steps have been taken to establish polio eradication as national agenda and not agenda of some political party or province.

"We promise you of delivering a polio-free Pakistan in coming years," he pledged. The recent campaign will start field operations across the country from December 16, 2019 under the umbrella of National Emergency Action Plan of the Pakistan Polio Eradication Program (NEAP) 2020.

The government aims to achieve zero-polio through implementation of: (i) an intense vaccination schedule to ensure maximum vaccination coverage of vulnerable children throughout the year; (ii) surveillance by testing stool samples collected from affected children and from sewage water across the country; (iii) full synchronization and coordination with Afghan Polio Eradication Program, and; (iv) innovative communication for eradication strategy to contextualize the program's communication approaches according to specific needs of communities.

The strategy will also include use of media, social media and advocacy measures to build community trust and acceptance needed to eradicate polio from the country.