LAHORE – Polio vaccine could not be administered to thousands of children due to unrest in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and some areas of Fata, some families were forced to migrate and take refuge elsewhere due to terrorism as a result of which polio could not be eliminated completely from Pakistan.
This was told by the Central leader Pakistan Paediatric Association Dr Ameer Muhammad Khan Jugezai, Punjab President Dr Waqar Hussain, Prof Tariq Iqbal Bhutta and Dean Children Hospital Lahore Professor Tahir Masud, in a joint press conference here on Monday. Prof Tariq Bhutta said that 198 polio cases were reported in 2011 throughout the country, out of which 72 were reported from Quetta, Pasheen and Qila Abdullah districts of Balochistan. He added that only four cases were reported from Punjab last year. He further said that 12 polio cases have been reported during the first two months of 2012 throughout the country out of which one related to Punjab.
Dr Ameer Muhammad Jugezai said that some religious extremists do not allow polio teams to administer polio drops in the areas under their influence which is a matter of grave concern. He stressed upon ulema to come forward and play their role in this regard.
Dr Jugezai said that the children can be saved from disability of entire life by administering polio vaccine drops and the people can play an active role in the elimination of this disease.
Lamenting on negative propaganda by some circles regarding polio vaccine quality, he said that discolouring of vaccine could only make it ineffective and it could never become harmful. He stressed upon the media to play its role for removing the negative impression from the minds of the people.