ISLAMABAD: World Polio Day was celebrated in Pakistan on Tuesday to create awareness about the hazards of the horrible and potentially fatal infectious disease.
The day is also observed to pay tribute to the US researcher Dr Jonaas Salk for inventing the polio vaccine. No cure for the crippling disease has been discovered as yet but the polio vaccine can prevent it to a great extent. Polio vaccine, given multiple times till the age of five, almost always protects a child for life.
Several activities were conducted to mark the day by various organisations and health institutions, including awareness walks, seminars, symposium and group discussions, to ensure that the general public is given enough awareness about the disease.
In 1988 Albert Sabin developed an oral polio vaccine which has reduced worldwide polio incidence by 99 per cent.
According to a polio eradication programme official, the provincial governments had been asked to ensure 100 per cent coverage during every polio immunisation drive.
