LAHORE, 26 OCT (DNA) – Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique has said that provincial government is fully committed for complete eradication of polio and this struggle would continue till the elimination of polio from Punjab.

He said that Health Department has chalked out programme for special anti-polio campaigns during winter which is a low transmission season of polio virus.  He said this while talking to a foreign delegation of Rotary International come from Switzerland, Holland and Italy on the invitation of Rotary Club Lahore in connection with the World Polio Day.

On this occasion Governor Rotary Club Punjab, Dr. Mansoor-ul-Haq, Sajid Bhatti, Mir Arif Ali, District Governor Saeed Shamsi, Muhammad Shahzad and representatives of WHO and Bill Gates Foundation were also present. Director Health EPI Dr. Munir Ahmad briefed the foreign guests regarding the present situation of polio in Pakistan particularly in Punjab.

He also shared the plan for special anti-polio campaigns during the low transmission season. Khawaja Salman Raffique disclosed that on the directions of Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, a Provincial Emergency Operation Centre has reestablished at the office of Director General Health Services Punjab to monitor the polio situation in the province

He further said that this Emergency Operation Centre has close contact with all districts and representatives of WHO, UNICEF, Bill Gates Foundation, Rotary Club and officers of Health Department have been gathered under one roof to monitor the current situation and to take decisions according to the requirements.

Khawaja Salman Raffique lauded the services of Rotary Club of Pakistan in the struggle against polio. He said that Rotary Club always extended cooperation to the Health Department in the struggle against polio. He further said the Rotary Club recently provided containers for establishing polio check posts at exist points of the province.

He further said that these containers have been installed at Khairabad Bridge Attock and Pir Wadai Bus Stand Rawalpindi. He disclosed that another container is being installed at Badami Bagh Lari Adda on 30th October.  He said that these containers are being used to house the polio teams for the vaccination of traveling children.

On this occasion, foreign guests of Rotary International while thanking on their warm welcome and protocol given to them said that at arriving in Pakistan they did not feel unsecured as they have apprehensions before coming here.

They further said that after participating in the anti-polio walk on World Polio Day and meeting with Government officials, they felt that the government and the people of Punjab are fully committed to eradicate polio and government has been making sincere efforts in this regard. District Governor Rotary Club Lahore Saeed Shamsi thanked the Advisor to Chief Minister on inviting the delegation and arranging briefing on current polio situation in Punjab.

He reiterated that Rotary Club will always extend all kind of cooperation to the Health Department in its struggle against polio. DNA