Pakistan observes World Polio Day to raise awareness

Pakistani government, health departments and civil society observed the World Polio Day with an aim to raise awareness among masses about the damage of polio besides gathering support to boost the eradication efforts. According to World Health Organization (WHO) reports, Pakistan is one of the four countries where polio remained endemic, and where many immunization campaigns failed to achieve their target. In March 2012, the WHO warned Pakistan that if the polio virus was not controlled, it could face serious consequences including travel and visa restrictions by a group of countries across the world. The warning came after at least 198 polio cases, 30 percent of global cases, were reported in Pakistan on 2011. Since the start of this year, at least 52 polio cases have been reported so far from across the country with majority of the cases coming from militancy-hit northwestern tribal regions. Various organizations and health institutions marked the day with several activities, including awareness walks, seminars, symposium and group discussions. Directorate General Health Services and its partner UNICEF arranged a photography and painting exhibition to mark the day in eastern city of Lahore. Arts students of different institutions showcased their paintings at the event with the purpose to spread the message of polio vaccination in a light way.. According to officials, the government has ordered the concerned authorities to reach every child to protect them from this crippling disease. "Over 16 million children under the age of five were administered drops during the three-day polio eradication drive in the country," the official said. The government and development partners claimed to make all possible efforts to make Pakistan a polio-free country and also urged the general public to come forward and support the cause. Pakistani government has also initiated a move to get the support of parliamentarians, media persons and religious leaders to convince the people who had been refusing to vaccinate their children.