‘Pakistan one of only three polio endemic countries’
MUHAMMAD SALEEM
LAHORE: As the world marked “Polio Day 2013” on Thursday, Pakistan drew world’s attention as one of only three polio endemic countries globally after Afghanistan and Nigeria. Despite polio eradication efforts, Pakistan continues to see a rising number of polio cases.
A 13-month-old boy was paralysed by polio after he was tested positive for the disease near Muridke on Wednesday. The report was issued by the National Institute of Health, Islamabad, which confirmed the presence of poliovirus. The victim Asad Ali is the youngest among his four brothers and astonishingly, the boy was not vaccinated and the routine EPI coverage in Union Council 21.
Like other parts of the globe, the World Polio Day was observed here on Thursday to raise awareness about the ravages of polio and garner support for eradication efforts. October 24 marks the birth of Jonas Salk who as the leader of a team invented a polio vaccine in 1955. In 1988 Albert Sabin developed an oral polio vaccine which has reduced worldwide polio incidence by 99 percent.
Overall, the number of new polio cases has plummeted by more than 99 percent since 1980s, when polio infected about 350,000 children a year. More than two billion children have been immunized in 122 countries, preventing five million cases of paralysis and 250,000 deaths.
Experts believe that eradicating polio from Pakistan depends on delivering oral polio vaccine to each and every child, including the most vulnerable and the hardest-to-reach at Union Council level. This massive undertaking can succeed, but only with the continued commitment of the Government, partners and the countrymen.
Officials claimed that over 16 million children under the age of five were administered drops during the three-day polio eradication drive in high-risk areas. The government and development partners were making all possible efforts to make Pakistan a polio-free country and sought the support of the general public and local communities, they said, adding: “Polio eradication plan calls for ensuring that every child was immunised even in the high-risk areas of the country.”
To mark the day, Rotary Clubs in collaboration with the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) organised a seminar. LCCI President Engineer Sohail Lashari was the chief guest while among others Atiqur Rehman Rana, Tazeem Ahmad, Sheikh Parvez, Anthony Richards, Mian Zahid Javed and G R Siddique spoke on the occasion.
“To give a final blow to crippling polio disease, everybody would have to play his role. If we all do our part, we can and will end this disease. But, we must act quickly and give ourselves the very best chance to succeed,” speakers said.
Speaking on the occasion, LCCI President Engineer Sohail Lashari appreciated the role of Rotary Club in creating awareness about polio and in providing polio drops to the children. He announced free of cost entry to disabled children at Sozo Water Park.
Other speakers expressed the resolve to continue working towards polio eradication till achieving polio free status for Pakistan. They spoke at length about the importance of awareness for eradication of the crippling disease, and said children suffered from polio every year; therefore, all segments of the society would have to play their part in its eradication.
To mark the day, Directorate General Health Services Punjab in collaboration with Unicef arranged a Photography & Painting Exhibition at Nairang Art Gallery, Gulberg, Lahore.
