Islamabad: Both the Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq, as well as Minister for Health Saira Afzal Tarar, who were decorated on Pakistan Day with the coveted ‘Sitara-i-Imtiaz’ for their leadership role in turning around the polio programme, have dedicated their awards to the heroic efforts of the entire polio team across the country.
“This award was received by me but belongs to each and everyone who has worked with missionary zeal, unflinching commitment and dedication to stop polio,” said Ayesha in a statement after receiving the award. She made special mention of the national and provincial coordinators of the Emergency Operation Centres for Polio for steering the programme ably and making all-out efforts to improve campaign quality.
“This award is recognition of the heroic effort of the brave foot soldiers of this programme -- the 260,000 Sehat Muhafiz who trek the length and breadth of our country spreading hope and light in the shape of polio drops to protect our children from lifelong disability,” said Ayesha.
Since 2014, Pakistan’s polio eradication programme has registered an overall 97% drop in wild poliovirus cases, from 306 cases in 2014, to 8 cases in the last year. So far in 2018, Pakistan has not had a single case of polio and the polio eradication programme hopes to make 2018 the last year of poliovirus transmission.
Some of the key initiatives that were taken by Saira included the declaration of polio eradication as a National Health Emergency; establishment of the National Task Force on Polio Eradication led by the prime minister; creation of National and Provincial Emergency Operation Centres; establishment of Cabinet Committee on Polio Eradication and Immunisation; and resource mobilization to launch a major offensive against polio virus across the country.
