Prime Minister launches last polio campaign of 2024 as country’s toll reaches 63

• The polio drive will be held from December 16 to 22.
• The Prime Minister urges parents to ensure their children are vaccinated.
• About 44 million children will be vaccinated: PM coordinator.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday launched the latest anti-polio campaign of 2024, which is set to begin on Monday (tomorrow) in 143 districts of the country after the number of polio cases reached 63 this year.

The Prime Minister officially launched the vaccination campaign by administering drops to children during an inauguration event in Islamabad today. This anti-polio drive will be held from December 16 to 22.

Addressing the event, Prime Minister Shehbaz welcomed international partners such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation founded by Bill Gates, World Health Organization (WHO) and Saudi Arabia for helping Pakistan in the war against polio.

He said that the role of the Saudi crown prince was remarkable in the eradication of polio in Pakistan.

“I especially thank the government of Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, for his valuable contribution to the eradication of polio not only in Pakistan but also in Afghanistan, and of course I deeply appreciate the efforts of the Bill Gates Foundation, WHO and want to I assure you that together we will march forward and will not rest until the polio forever,” he added.

During the inauguration, the Prime Minister highlighted the growing concern over the rising cases of polio, with about 60 new cases reported, but assured that with the combined efforts of the federal and provincial governments, the country will overcome this challenge.

The provincial distribution of polio cases this year includes 26 in Balochistan, 18 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 17 in Sindh and one each in Punjab and Islamabad, according to the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC).

He urged parents to ensure their children are vaccinated to protect them from polio.

The prime minister also appreciated the efforts of polio workers involved in the vaccination campaign and the cooperation of law enforcement agencies to ensure the safe conduct of the nationwide anti-polio drive.

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister’s Focal Point for Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq said about 400,000 polio workers in 143 districts of the country will visit every household to administer polio drops to children under five years of age.

He asked the parents to open their doors and fully cooperate with the polio groups in this campaign.

He noted that the prime minister’s continued involvement in polio efforts served as a testament to his commitment to protecting the health of Pakistan’s children.

He assured that the campaign will leave no stone unturned in its efforts to ensure that every child is vaccinated against the disease.

In a pre-recorded message earlier today, the prime minister’s focus expressed a goal to ensure access to free, completely safe and effective polio vaccinations for all children up to the age of five.

He also said that it is necessary to complete the course of vaccinations for immunization to protect against other deadly diseases alongside polio.

Farooq paid tribute to the frontline polio workers who are serving the nation under difficult conditions in the ongoing fight against the contagious disease.

Prime Minister’s Coordinator for National Health Services Dr Mukhtar Bharath said around 44 million children will be reached across Pakistan during this last polio eradication effort of the year.

The highly contagious viral disease mainly affects children under the age of five, especially those with weak immunity or insufficient vaccination.

With more than 60% of children affected by polio in 2024 not receiving regular vaccination, health authorities have established a high-level committee to improve coordination between the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) and the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI). , according to The News.

The committee, headed by the Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Health Services Dr Malik Muhtar Ahmed Barath, includes provincial health directors and representatives from international organizations such as WHO, UNICEF, CDC and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Its primary objective is to address challenges in high-risk areas and enhance vaccination coverage across the country.