Pakistan close to achieving polio-free status, says Dr Faisal

ISLAMABAD – Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on National Health Services (NHS) Dr Faisal Sultan on Monday said Pakistan is close to eliminating polio from the country.

He said this while meeting a high-level delegation on polio which briefed the SAPM about the details of surveillance review on polio.

Dr Faisal Sultan said that Pakistan is nearing the end of polio and this golden opportunity should not be wasted as efforts have been made to eradicate polio in Pakistan since 1994.

He said that Pakistan has made significant improvements in polio surveillance and that the best strategy is to control the virus, adding that despite the Covid-19, the polio programme conducted excellent campaigns.

Dr Faisal said that all resources are being utilised to achieve the goal of a polio-free Pakistan.

Earlier the National Emergency and Operations Centre (NEOC) in its statement said that world polio day is observed across the world and nationwide with the call for concerted efforts to eradicate poliovirus from Pakistan.  

“This World Polio Day is a reminder for all of us to ensure we deliver this precious promise to our children – a polio-free world,” said Dr Shahzad Baig, Coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Centre, Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI).

In partnership with Rotary International, the Pakistan Polio Programme organised various events both at the national and provincial levels to commemorate the day.  Rotary International and the Pakistan Polio Programme jointly organised a photo exhibition highlighting various activities of the polio eradication programme while a motor rally was organised along the Srinagar highway to raise awareness on this disease. Similarly, seminars, workshops, rallies, including recognising the efforts of polio workers, were organised in all provinces.

World Polio Day has been celebrated globally since 2011 by Rotary International and various organisations. 

Thirty years ago, there were over 350,000 cases of wild poliovirus each year.  Backed by solid investments and political commitment, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI)   has helped bring the number of polio cases close to zero.  Afghanistan and Pakistan are the last two countries left in the world to eliminate domestic strains of poliovirus.

Article source: https://nation.com.pk/26-Oct-2021/pakistan-close-to-achieving-polio-free-status-says-dr-faisal