MPAs vow to play role in polio eradication

LAHORE: MPAs Tuesday resolved to make polio campaigns a success in the province. The resolve was expressed at a PILDAT briefing session held on the subject of Polio Emergency in Pakistan.

The MPAs met with MPA Muhammad Afzal, Chairman Standing Committee Health, in the chair to discuss the situation of polio in Punjab at the briefing session. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, president PILDAT, welcomed the participants and said, “In these Covid times although our main focus is vaccination against Covid but the polio situation also cannot be overlooked. Although polio cases are on a decline but efforts are needed to completely eradicate the disease and the elected members of Punjab can play a vital role if engaged in the polio eradication campaigns effectively.”

Earlier, Dr Ujala Nayyar, Surveillance Specialist, gave a detailed presentation on the polio situation in Punjab and highlighted the high risk areas and requested the members to support the polio eradication teams.

Punjab MPAs pledged that they are prepared to play their role for the eradication of polio from Punjab. They suggested that polio awareness campaigns should be organised in schools and vaccination certificates should be made mandatory for admissions in schools. MPAs voiced concern that polio workers were overworked and under-paid.