Ulema have to play their effective role for complete eradication of polio

Lahore: Minister for Finance, Excise & Taxation, Mian Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman has said that youth are the future of the nation and we have to provide them state of the art healthcare facilities so that to establish healthy society in the country. He said that protective healthcare programmes would be continued to save the children from epidemic, communicable and non-communicable diseases. He also asked the   doctors & paramedics to launch a comprehensive campaign with renewed determination against the menace of Polio.

While talking to various delegations Mian Mujtaba Shuja ur  Rehman, said that with the cooperation of all segments of society as well as the international donor organizations, polio will be completely wiped out from the country. He said that parents, teachers, elected representatives and Ulema have to play their effective role for complete eradication of polio from the country. He said that the government would facilitate the NGOs and private sector to join hand for the elimination of this menace from the country and to create awareness among the parents that anti-polio doze should be given to every child under 5 years of age and to teach them that repeated dozes to the children are safe.

Mian Mujtba Shuja ur  Rehman said that 70 percent population live in rural areas which are closely linked with the basic health centers, therefore, the government is upgrading the infrastructure of basic health centers for provision of modern health facilities to the masses at grass root level.

The Minister said that Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) aims at reducing morbidity, disabilities and mortality caused by seven vaccine preventable diseases namely Childhood Tuberculosis, Poliomyelitis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Measles, Neonatal tetanus and Hepatitis-B by vaccinating all children below one year of age, in addition, all pregnant women are vaccinated against tetanus. The priority targets of the programme are polio eradication followed by elimination of Neonatal Tetanus & Measles, he concluded.