Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal said on Monday that a marked reduction had been noticed in the number of parents refusing to get their children administered polio drops, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Speaking at the start of the national polio campaign at the National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC) in Islamabad, he said that the third polio campaign of the ongoing year had got underway across the country today. “During the campaign, over 40 million children, under five years of age, will be administered polio drops,” he informed.
The minister said it was a matter of concern that all the countries in the world had managed to get rid of polio, barring Pakistan and Afghanistan.
He further said that despite the fact that more and more parents were now willing to get their children immunized against the crippling disease, still there were many who needed to be convinced that polio drops were necessary for their kids’ health. “I implore parents to understand that these drops are necessary if they are to protect their children from disability,” he said, adding that the vaccination of kids was the only way through which they could be protected against the virus. “Once a child contracts the disease. Then there is a disability for life.”
Mustafa went on to say that the way the nation acted as a bulwark against Indian aggression, it should show the same spirit against polio.
The minister said it was a matter of satisfaction that the polio campaign in Karachi produced the desired results due to the involvement of the people’s representatives. “The entire community’s participation is necessary if we are to eliminate polio,” he asserted.
A nationwide #polio vaccination campaign begins May 26 - June 1st to protect 45.4 million children under the age of five across #Pakistan.
— Aseefa B Zardari (@AseefaBZ) May 26, 2025
Over 400,000 frontline workers will be out in the field going door-to-door to ensure no child is left behind. We urge parents, teachers,…
Reporter: Babar Shahzad