Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was informed on Thursday that as a result of the dedicated nationwide anti-polio campaigns, not a single case of polio had been reported in the country since February 10.
Chairing the review meeting on polio eradication, the prime minister commended the efforts of relevant government institutions, international organisations, and partners to make Pakistan polio-free.
He directed the relevant authorities to ensure awareness and community mobilisation regarding the anti-polio campaign across the country.
“It must be ensured that every child under five years of age is administered the polio vaccine during the anti-polio campaign starting from April 21,” he added.
He emphasised that alongside the campaign, nationwide routine immunisation for protection against other dangerous diseases should also be fully ensured.
“Despite challenging conditions, the workers participating in the anti-polio campaign are playing a frontline role in the fight against this disease,” PM Shehbaz said, adding that the entire nation, including himself, was proud of the hardworking polio workers.
During the meeting, the prime minister was briefed about the upcoming anti-polio campaign from April 21 to April 27, during which 4.5 million children will be administered the polio vaccine.
A total of 415,000 polio workers will participate in this nationwide campaign. The meeting was further informed that, as per the prime minister’s instructions, third-party validation of the campaign will be completed from April 28 to April 30.
Moreover, cold chain tracking of the anti-polio campaigns is being monitored under a digital system.
Minister for National Health Syed Mustafa Kamal, Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Polio Ayesha Raza Farooq, Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal, chief secretaries of all four provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and Gilgit-Baltistan, representatives of international partners, and other senior relevant officials attended the meeting.
Two days ago, Kamal urged the public to reject baseless misconceptions about the polio vaccine, saying that while diseases like cancer have treatment options, polio has no cure and can only be prevented through timely immunisation, The News reported.
The minister noted that Pakistan remains one of only two countries in the world, along with Afghanistan, where polio continues to circulate.
“We have reported six cases of polio so far this year. Many sewage samples across different regions are still testing positive for poliovirus,” he said.
He emphasised that the upcoming anti-polio drive, scheduled from April 21 to 27, would vaccinate over 45 million children across the country. “More than 400,000 trained frontline workers will go door to door to administer oral polio drops. The government will ensure their safety,” Kamal assured.
He dismissed the common myth that polio vaccination has religious implications or causes harm.
Kamal reaffirmed that this year’s campaign would be synchronised with Afghanistan’s efforts, maximising the impact across both borders. “For the first time this year, Pakistan and Afghanistan will begin and end the campaign together. This is a significant move.”
