ISLAMABAD, Oct 29 (Alliance News): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif reiterated his commitment on Monday to eliminate polio from Pakistan, calling for unified efforts across the nation to combat the disease.
“We will not rest until we have permanently defeated polio,” the prime minister stated while presiding over a meeting focused on polio eradication.
Commending the dedication of the government’s polio team, he instructed the Coordinator for National Health, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, Polio Focal Person Ayesha Raza Farooq, and the Secretary of National Health to visit the areas most affected by polio in the recent campaign.
To ensure the effectiveness of the campaign, PM Sharif also directed a third-party audit of the anti-polio efforts. Additionally, he stressed the importance of developing a robust strategy to close the immunity gap, which remains a significant barrier to eradication.
During the meeting, officials briefed the prime minister on the current status of polio cases and the ongoing efforts to curb the disease.
Currently, Pakistan has 41 active polio cases, with 25 of these cases occurring in areas with inadequate immunization coverage.
The briefing underscored that regions with higher vaccination rates have experienced significantly lower polio spread.
The meeting included Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, Ayesha Raza Farooq, and other senior government officials.
