KARACHI: Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Pakistan prime minister’s focal person for polio eradication, on Friday commended frontline workers for risking their lives to protect children from polio, as the South Asian country marked the World Polio Day.
The World Polio Day is observed on Oct. 24 each year to raise awareness about global efforts to eradicate the disease that mainly affects children and can cause paralysis. It marks the birth of Dr. Jonas Salk, who developed the first polio vaccine.
Pakistan has reported 30 polio cases so far this year. The South Asian country this month ran a week-long immunization campaign, with anti-polio vaccinators going door-to-door to vaccinate over 45 million children nationwide despite multiple attacks.
“In every polio campaign, more than 400,000 frontline heroes go door-to-door to ensure the protection of every child,” Farooq was quoted as saying by the country’s polio program. “The dedication and courage of frontline health workers are the true driving force behind Pakistan’s fight against polio.”
Pakistan is among the last two nations in the world, along with Afghanistan, where the disease remains endemic.
