District Coordination Officer (DCO) Rawalpindi, Talat Mahmood Gondal has said that the five-day anti-polio drive in the district will be kicked off on December 19 and it will continue till December 23.
The DCO stated this while inaugurating the launching ceremony of anti-polio drive at the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) on Saturday.
So far, 18 cases have been reported this year in all over the country. In endemic countries total 34 cases were reported, Pakistan at the top with 18, Afghanistan 12 and Nigeria 4. In Pakistan, worst affected province was KPK with 9 cases, Sindh with 6, Fata 2, Baluchistan 1 and Punjab with zero case.
He said that Rawalpindi due to its key geographical location is very prone to polio virus due to the inter-district and Inter-province mobilisation, especially people coming to Rawalpindi from KPK, FATA and other parts of the country. “We are very committed and active to eradicate the menace of polio virus throughout the country, “he added.
Earlier, RCCI’s President Raja Amer Iqbal in his welcome address gave a short briefing on RCCI current and future events. He said that it is very alarming that Pakistan is ranked number 1 in polio cases globally. It is our collective responsibility to eradicate this menace.
A comprehensive strategy is required to address the issue. He assured his full support and cooperation in this regard.
Senior Vice President Rashid Waien, Vice President Asim Malik, former president Mian Humayun Parvez, Chairman of Standing Committee on Health Nosherwan Khan, representatives of UNICEF, WHO, health department and a large number of traders were also present on the occasion.
