HEAD of the Polio Eradication Programme in Punjab Khizer Afzaal on Monday took pride in highlighting the fact that the country’s biggest province had been free of polio cases for nearly three years since October 2020, terming it “an achievement of the programme”, but cautioned that, as evident from the genomic sampling of viruses in Lahore and Rawalpindi environmental samples, Punjab was at risk of virus importation. In a statement, he said the government and health department are fully committed to winning this decisive round to ensure that our children will never again be afflicted by polio.
Punjab surely deserves credit for being polio free for the last three years, an achievement that owes its existence to the hard work done by polio teams as well as cooperation extended by the people of the province. As against numerous hiccups including threats that polio workers faced in other provinces and Gilgit-Baltistan, people of Punjab welcomed polio campaigns and cooperated fully to make them a success. Appreciations are also due to religious scholars, defence forces and security personnel for showing exemplary support to this national cause. The progress made by Punjab on the anti-polio front should serve as a role model for governments and people of remaining provinces, especially KP and Balochistan, which remain vulnerable to the crippling disease because of unregulated cross-border movements. Subject to greater vigilance and creation of necessary awareness, the goal of polio-free Pakistan seems to be within sight.
