ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution moved by Minister of State for National Health Service Saira Afzal Tarrar, demanding the polio immunization programme may be implemented vigorously to make the country polio free as early as possible.
Earlier winding up debate in the house on the polio eradication, the minister of state assured that the federal government will extend full cooperation to the provincial governments in the fight against this crippling virus.
The state minister said that the federal government is in contact with the international partners as well as a summary has been forwarded to the prime minister to get a supplementary grant for the polio eradication programme.
However, she said, that responsibility rests with the provincial governments to provide security to the polio workers. She pointed out that there are no polio cases in Punjab and Balochistan but these are on the rise in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Tarrar clarified that the travel advisory of the World Health Organization (WHO) are only recommendations and not restrictions. She said that polio is a national issue and the parliamentarians should play their role in the anti-polio campaign by monitoring the anti-polio drive in their respective constituencies.
Holding discussion on the polio eradication campaign, the members called upon the federal and provincial governments to chalk out an effective policy to fight this crippling virus.
The lawmakers said that the polio cases are damaging image of the country in the outside world and there is a dire need to undertake serious efforts to purge the country of polio.
The members said that religious scholars should be taken on board to remove suspicions and doubts surrounding the anti-polio drops. They emphasized the need for introducing necessary legislation to ensure immunization of children against polio and other diseases.
Highlighting the risks to the lives of polio workers, the members said that anti-polio campaign will not achieve success without removing concerns of polio workers regarding security and better salary package.
