Jakhrani launches three-day polio eradication drive.

ISLAMABAD, July 20, 2009 (Balochistan Times) -- Minister for Health Mir Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani on Monday launched a three-day anti-polio campaign by administering polio drops to a child here at National Institute of Health (NIH). Addressing on the occasion, the minister said that the government is fully committed to achieving the target of stopping wild poliovirus in the country as soon as possible. Jakhrani said We all want to ensure our children are protected from disease and have a bright future. Lets work together to ensure that all children are immunized so that no child will ever again know the crippling affects of polio. He said during this campaign polio partnership has expanded to include the Lahore Traffic Police and other organizations. He added it is exciting to see more partners are joining hands with the Ministry of Health to ensure children are protected from polio. He said the eradication of polio is the largest public health initiative ever undertaken. He added the polio partnership is one of the most unique and innovative, bringing together governments, development agencies, donors, private sector, NGOs and importantly, the health workers themselves. We have made progress towards the goal of stopping polio, since our great leader Shaheed Benazir Bhutto launched the first campaign in 1994. However, given the upsurge in cases, now more than ever, ownership of these campaigns at all levels and the involvement of all stakeholders will be the only way to achieve success. He said under the leadership of the Prime Minister the involvement of the Ministries of Education, Interior, Information, Communication, and now the Lahore Traffic Police will ensure a full scale national campaign. He said more sectors are coming forward to support the cause including the corporate sector and line departments with impact in terms of reaching more children. National Program Manager, Expanded Programme on Immunization Dr. Altaf Bosan said the Federal EPI Cell and the Ministry of Health have taken all measures to ensure the success of campaign. During the campaign, 33. 9 million children under five years of age will be provided oral polio vaccine. He added more than 87,110 vaccination teams and nearly 19,000 supervisors have been trained and mobilized to go house to house to provide this important health intervention to the children. Dr. Bosan said all necessary vaccine and logistics have been provided and local level microplanning, training and social mobilization activities have been undertaken to address the local issues.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)