Chief Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Uzma Kardar has said that the government is determined to eradicate polio from the country and is utilizing all available measures in this regard.
During an interview with Radio Pakistan’s correspondent Qasim Bukhari, she expressed regret that Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world where polio cases are still reported, while the rest of the world has become polio-free.
She said that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is deeply concerned about the eradication of polio and in the last meeting, she directed authorities to ensure foolproof polio coverage.
Uzma Kardar informed that during the ongoing polio campaign, the Provincial Taskforce for Polio Eradication has decided to geotag mobile populations. She said that special teams have been formed to vaccinate children at entry and transit points in the province. She shared that she visited the polio transit point at Attock Khurd a few days ago and personally administered polio drops to children under five years of age there.
She said that routine immunization (EPI) coverage is being improved to achieve complete elimination of polio. She said that the provincial government has taken comprehensive measures to address flaws in the anti-polio campaign, aiming to make the eradication of this crippling disease possible. She said that special instructions have been issued to ensure 100% coverage of mobile populations and missed children.
CMFP Uzma Kardar said that the digitization of micro-plans will help improve the quality of anti-polio drives. She highlighted that the presence of the poliovirus in environmental samples is a serious concern. She said that three years ago, Punjab was polio-free, but in 2023, three districts were affected, with eleven positive environmental samples across the country. In 2024, this has increased, with thirteen districts infected and forty-five positive environmental samples, which is an alarming situation.
Uzma Kardar said that Punjab shares borders with other provinces like Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and data from environmental samples and population movement indicates that mobility contributes to the spread of the poliovirus because of missed people.
She informed that the September polio campaign targeted specific infected districts, while the current polio campaign has been launched nationwide to break the chain of polio virus transmission among children.
She also announced that another polio eradication campaign will be conducted nationwide in December.
CMFP Uzma Kardar said that by the end of the fourth day of anti polio campaign, over 20.18 million children had been given polio drops.
In Lahore, 1.681 million children were vaccinated, 791,000 children in Rawalpindi and over 981,000 children in Multan administered polio drops.
She informed that today is the last day of the campaign in 33 districts and in these districts, follow-up will be done only for children who missed the vaccination. Meanwhile, catch-up days will begin tomorrow in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad.
