Effective mechanism key to eradicating polio virus: Kardar

LAHORE:Punjab Chief Minister’s focal person on polio Uzma Kardar has said that Pakistan and Afghanistan’s future as polio-free countries was inter-linked, reiterating that until situation improves in Afghanistan, the polio virus cannot be eradicated in Pakistan.

Uzma Kardar emphasised on developing a mechanism to monitor the transit points more effectively, reiterating the fact that Pakistan and Afghanistan were the last two polio endemic countries on the globe.

She expressed these views during her maiden visit to the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) of Punjab. Polio eradication partners also participated the in the meeting. Punjab EOC Coordinator Khizer Afzaal briefed on polio human resource, newly reported polio case, challenges and measures taken to eradicate the virus. Afzaal informed her that more than 200,000 polio workers participated in the national polio inoculation drives all over the province. He said that over a period of one year, the coverage in polio campaigns has shown improvement. “From 89 per cent coverage in June 2023 campaign, the overall coverage has increased to 92 per cent in July 2024”, he said.