Govt taking steps to eradicate polio virus by 2016: Saira Tarar

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for National Health Services Regulation and Coordination, Saira Afzal Tarar has said that sincere efforts are being made to eradicate polio virus from the country by year 2016.

As a result of steps being taken by the government, situation is getting better day by day as only 26 cases of polio have been reported so far in this year, she said while talking to a private news channel.

She said the government has been giving more attention to 12 high risk districts including Pashin, Quetta, Tank and Peshawar districts as most of the new polio cases are being reported from these areas.

She said that the federal government and the provincial governments have devised a plan to create awareness about the disease up to union council level.

“In past we were unable to administer polio drops at some places due to security reasons, however, the major sensitive areas including North and South Waziristan were now in access for polio campaign due to operation Zarb e Azb,” the minister said.