World Polio Day today

LAHORE

The World Polio Day will be observed on Monday (today). The day is annually observed to commemorate fight against poliomyelitis and pay tribute to Jonas Salk, American medical researcher and virologist, who led the first team that developed a vaccine against poliomyelitis. 

According to a handout on Sunday, Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries battling polio now in the world. Therefore all eyes are set on these two countries.

Adviser to chief minister, Khawaja Salman Rafique, in his message said: “Polio has been declared a national emergency and a dedicated team of professionals in an emergency operation centre in the provincial health directorate is working hard to achieve the dream of polio eradication.” He said Punjab has made progress over the last two years and with other variables in control, polio eradication may well be in sight in the next one years. He said Punjab has had no polio cases in year 2016. “In 2014, Punjab accounted for just 4 cases out of a total of 306 in the country. In the year 2015, there were two cases in Punjab out of country total of 54 and this year we have had no case”. Khawaja Salman Rafique said with use of android-based tailor-made application E-vaccs with support from the PITB, Punjab has been able to boost its routine immunisation to 86 per cent from mid 50s within a year. He said Punjab is doing its best to implement the National Emergency Action Plan for polio eradication. Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries battling polio now with Nigeria making considerable progress towards polio free status.