ISLAMABAD: Senior UNICEF official George Laryea-Adjei hoped on Sunday that polio disease will be completely eradicated from Pakistan by the end of 2023 after the effective steps to check its spread in the South Asian country.
Pakistan in a much better position to eradicate polio: UNICEF
The UNICEF official said that present data showed that the virus is now under control in Pakistan. He said that they are utilizing all available services and resources to reach every boy and girl in Pakistan with vaccines to protect them against the disease. He also lauded the efforts of 350,000 health workers to administer the vaccine to every kid and said the program will prevent all wild polio virus transmission by 2023.
George Laryea-Adjei was of the view that Pakistan is in a much better position today to eliminate polio than one year ago. There are challenges that hampered the efforts to eradicate the polio virus completely, he remarked. The official also expressed concern over the attack against polio workers in some areas of Pakistan and appreciated the courage of polio workers and teams. He added that the recent floods in Pakistan also destroyed health infrastructure in those districts historically at the highest risk for poliovirus.
Joint responsibility to make Pakistan polio-free
Meanwhile, officials said on Sunday that a total of 805,393 children were administered anti-polio drops during the drive in 163 union councils of Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
A week-long anti-polio drive in Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation and Cantonments areas concluded successfully on Sunday. Head of the anti-polio campaign, Ch Muhammad Hussain told the media that a total of 3,787 polio teams, 243 medical officers, and 858 area in-charges took part in the campaign. He informed that a total of 805,393 children were administered anti-polio drops during the drive in 163 union councils of the Rawalpindi district of Pakistan.
He said that the anti-polio drive had also been launched in tehsils Rawalpindi, Taxila, Gujjar Khan, Rawalpindi city, and in cantonments areas. Hussain added the drive had created awareness about smog, COVID-19, and anti-dengue preventive steps and measures.
Deputy Commissioner of the district Shoaib Ali also directed polio teams and workers to follow up on polio refusal cases during the drive. He further said that polio was a national issue in Pakistan, and it was the duty and responsibility of all to play a key role in making the South Asian country polio-free. – APP
