Eradication of polio is our national responsibility:Kh. Salman

Lahore: Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health, Khawaja Salman Rafique has said that eradication of polio is our national and international responsibility. He said if there is only one case of polio, the danger of spreading of this disease will be there.

Khawaja Salman Rafique said that all out efforts are being made for the eradication of polio, however, there is a severe danger of spreading this disease in other parts of the country due to special circumstances of KPK and FATA.

He stated this while inaugurating 3-day anti-polio national campaign at Government Mian Munshi Hospital, here today. Anti-polio campaign will continue from 18^th to 20^th November in Punjab, he added.

Khawaja Salman Rafique said that one crore 65 lakh children would be administered polio vaccine during these three days and for this purpose, 39242 teams have been constituted. He said that due to terrorism and war-like situation in KPK and FATA, thousands of children are deprived of vaccination of polio drops and due to transportation this virus is reaching in other parts of the country. He said that during anti-polio campaign, special attention would be paid to administer polio drops to the children of Pashtoon area in Punjab so that this virus could be eliminated.

For better coordination with the Pashtoon people, efforts are being made for including Pashto speaking people in the teams which will visit Pashtoon areas in this regard, he added.

Replying to a question, Khawaja Salman Rafique said that the parents refusing to get their children administered polio vaccine, would be motivated and even then if they refused, cases would be registered against them. He stressed upon the parents to must administered polio drops to their children up to the age of 5 years.

Khawaja Salman Rafique informed that 2620 mobile teams have been constituted for administering polio drops to 1493499 children while 263 static centers have also been set up.