Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, has pledged to end the country’s polio epidemic, and from February 3–9, the country will launch its first statewide anti-polio campaign of the year. He underlined the significance of protecting future generations through immunization while administering polio drops to youngsters under the age of five.
Dedicated vaccination teams will go to far-flung villages and neglected regions in an effort to vaccinate millions of youngsters. The prime minister expressed his faith in healthcare personnel’s abilities to eliminate polio through commitment and teamwork, praising their continuous efforts.
Along with Afghanistan, Pakistan is one of just two nations where polio is still a major health concern. The country recorded 77 cases in the previous year, and the first case of 2024 was found in the Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Vaccine reluctance, disinformation, and security concerns are some of the obstacles that have slowed progress despite international efforts.
Shehbaz Sharif expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF for their efforts to help Pakistan eradicate polio. With continuous worldwide cooperation, he hoped that Afghanistan would soon overcome the disease as well.
Shortly after, the prime minister paid a visit to Lahore to the home of National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, where he offered his congratulations to Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah on the wedding of his son. The meeting was also attended by other members of the National Assembly.
Despite polio’s continued prevalence, the government is resolute in its goal of eradicating the infection through coordinated global immunization campaigns.
