ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s focal person on polio, Ayesha Raza Farooq, on Monday, urged all segments of society to help eradicate polio virus from Pakistan. Talking to media, she announced the start of an anti-polio campaign in forty-nine selected districts, where more than 9.5 million children under five will receive polio vaccine drops. She also called on parents to cooperate with polio teams visiting their homes.
She noted that sixteen districts in Balochistan, eleven in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, sixteen in Sindh, and six in Punjab are part of the campaign. Additionally, door-to-door polio vaccination will be conducted in specific Union Councils of Islamabad.
“The government is sending polio vaccination teams to citizens’ doorsteps, particularly in areas where the virus is present. Parents and guardians should welcome these dedicated health workers, who are working hard despite severe heatwave conditions,” she said.
In response to a question, she mentioned that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is actively taking efforts, and held high-level meetings with the chief ministers of all four provinces to overcome this issue. Within the next two months, another comprehensive nationwide drive will also be launched.
She further said that the government is providing all possible support and security steps to protect polio workers.
