RAWALPINDI: Head of the Polio Eradication Programme in Punjab Khizer Afzaal on Monday took pride in highlighting the fact that the country’s biggest province had been free of polio cases for nearly three years since October 2020, terming it “an achievement of the programme”, but cautioned that, as evident from the genomic sampling of viruses in Lahore and Rawalpindi environmental samples, Punjab was at risk of virus importation.

“The Punjab has been free of polio cases for the last three years, but as long as polio exists anywhere, it is a threat to children everywhere”, Mr Khizer said in a statement on the eve of ‘World Polio Day’ to be observed on Tuesday (today).

The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), Punjab, has organised several ceremonies to mark the day all over the province.

“To end polio, we must reach every child in this challenging last mile of eradication, which is within our grasp. The government and health department are fully committed to winning this decisive round to ensure that our children will never again be afflicted by polio”, Mr Afzaal pledged.

He thanked the hardworking polio workers who reached out to children across the length and breadth of the country, stating that “their dedication has played an important role in bringing us so close to eradication of the disease.” He also thanked the leadership of all religious scholars, defence forces and security personnel for showing exemplary support to this national cause.

Mr Afzaal underscored that thousands of people in Pakistan, who would’ve been paralysed, were able to walk, thanks to concerted polio eradication efforts.

“Let us resolve on this World Polio Day that we will give no room for the polio virus to find any sanctuary within our communities or our homes,” he added.

The EOC head said this effort would bring about the eradication of the second human disease in history and, most importantly, ensure that no parent or child would have to fear the paralysis the virus causes ever again.

This day provides the government, global polio eradication community, and Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) partners in Pakistan with an opportunity to renew their promise of a polio-free world to future generations.

The World Polio Day is being observed in admiration of Dr Jonas Salk, the man who led the first team to develop a vaccine against polio. The emergence of the polio vaccine reduced the incidence of polio cases worldwide by 99 per cent, but only Pakistan and Afghanistan remained polio-endemic countries.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2023