ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan on Sunday launched its first anti-polio campaign of the 12 months, targeting 44.2 million children under the age of 5.
Pakistan and Afghanistan are the one two countries on the planet where polio continues to threaten the health and well-being of youngsters. Polio affects the nervous system of youngsters and ultimately results in paralysis.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif kicked off the nationwide drive by administering polio drops to children within the capital, Islamabad, saying Pakistan was unfortunately among the many few countries that also suffered from the disease.
Twenty cases were reported within the tribal North Waziristan area last 12 months, though the disease was contained amongst other children through immunization, Sharif said.
Around 44 million children in 156 districts will likely be immunized.
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This includes 22.54 million children in Punjab, 10.1 million in Sindh and seven.4 million in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.
Sharif said his government together with other stakeholders, including U.S. billionaire Bill Gates and the World Health Organization, were effectively contributing to polio eradication in Pakistan.
He gave away appreciation certificates on the launch to frontline polio employees and praised their “invaluable sacrifices”.
Pakistan has witnessed frequent attacks on polio teams and policemen deployed to guard them. Militants falsely claim that vaccination campaigns are a Western conspiracy to sterilize children.
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