Wednesday, May 7, 2008, Rabi-ul-Sani 30, 1429    

NH&MP, Health Ministry join hands for vaccination campaign

Raja Zahid

Islamabad—The National Highway and Motorway Police on Tuesday joined hands with the Ministry of Health for the eradication of Polio from Pakistan, as authority has established almost fifty-seven special anti polio vaccination points at all motorway and national highway toll plazas.
While addressing the opening ceremony of anti polio vaccination here at Motorway Toll Plaza the Secretary Health Khushnood Lashari commended NH & MP efforts for partnering with Ministry of health for immunisation of travelling children.
He said that National Highways and Motorways Police was doing an excellent work for providing the much needed assistance to immunize children in transit along with official duty. He said that health ministry is committed to provide better health facilities to every citizen and all possible steps would be taken in this regard.
Health secretary said that number of polio cases has been reduced from thousands to just five in Pakistan this year and added that Pakistan could be the next polio-free country in the world having set Polio free target till 2010.
“It’s a great honour for NH and MP for running such a noble campaign and added that this effort would be definitely helpful for the permanent reduction of polio from country’ he said Inspector General NH & MP Muhammad Raffat Pasha said on the occasion.
He said that presently camping is actively running in the 57 toll plazas of Motorway and National Highways like N-5, RCD Highway, Coastal Highway and Lyari Expressway that fall under the jurisdiction of NH & MP. He said that immunization of traveling children is very necessary because they could miss the opportunity.
IG appreciated the efforts of government WHO, Unicef and other donor agencies including media for their great contribution towards the eradication of polio disease in country. Around 80,000 special teams, comprising over 160,000 health workers will administrate the polio drops to the children.