Summary Prime Minister will make key announcements of World Polio Day on October 24.
ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday decided to seek assistance of the Army Chief and provincial chief ministers in anti-polio drive, Dunya News reported.
According to sources, the Prime Minister is expected make important announcements on World Polio Day (October 24).
He has also decided to summon session of National Polio Task Force after every three months instead of one year.
The premier has taken a decision to form a special cabinet committee for eradication of polio in most affected areas. The committee will comprise the interior minister, defence minister and health minister.
Another high-level inter-ministerial coordination committee headed by the federal health minister will be formed as well to ensure provision of all resources for anti-polio campaigns, sources told.
Recently, Pakistan has recorded its highest number of polio cases for 15 years, with health officials blaming the rise on attacks on immunisation teams.
The number of new cases in 2014 so far is 202, exceeding the 199 cases in 2001 but short of the 558 cases in 1999.
Most of the cases are detected in the north-western tribal region where militants have targeted health teams.
Polio is a crippling disease that invades the nervous system and can cause irreversible paralysis within hours. There is no cure but it can be prevented by immunisation. Children are the most vulnerable.
