ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated government’s unflinching resolve to rid country of polio virus through renewed efforts. In a tweet on World Polio Day, he said that it is unfortunate that polio still exists in our country which disables children, stunts their future and undermines national progress.

Every year on October 24, we observe World Polio Day to raise awareness of importance of polio vaccination to protect every child from this devastating disease and to celebrate many parents, professionals and volunteers whose contributions make polio eradication achievable. World Polio Day highlights global efforts to end poliomyelitis (polio) worldwide.

Polio is a life-threatening disease caused by poliovirus, which World Health Assembly committed to eradicate in 1988. WHO European Region was declared polio-free in 2002 and has sustained this status every year since then.

To ensure a polio-free future for everyone, efforts must continue to maintain high immunisation coverage, implement high-quality surveillance to detect any presence of virus and prepare to respond in event of an outbreak.

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 25 2022

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