Pakistan continues efforts to defeat polio virus: Shahzad Baig

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication Dr Shahzad Asif Baig on Tuesday said that Pakistan will continue its efforts to defeat the polio virus.

He urged all political leaders, religious leaders, doctors, teachers, and artists to play an important role in strengthening the national polio campaign.

Talking to the PTV news channel on ‘World Polio Day’ he called upon the international community to look towards Pakistan and provide all possible cooperation in this regard so that the country works to eradicate polio.

He also acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts to eradicate polio and reiterated his foundation’s continued support to Pakistan for ensuring that no child was at risk of paralysis due to the poliovirus.

“People are still sceptical about the poliovirus vaccine and continuous migration, along with the porous border with Afghanistan, are becoming major causes behind the resurgence of the virus,” he added. The majority of cases that have been found are saturated in the region that lies along the border, he added.

He also expressed the hope that Pakistan would soon be removed from the list of polio-affected countries by achieving the target of not reporting any new cases for a year.

He also maintained that the media should convince the public to vaccinate their children positively.

World Polio Day also provides an opportunity to highlight global efforts toward a polio-free world and honour the tireless contributions of those on the front lines in the fight to eradicate this disease, he added. (APP)