Pakistani PM kicks off nationwide special anti-polio campaign

A health worker gives polio vaccination drops to a child during a special nationwide anti-polio campaign in southern Pakistani port city of Karachi on Sept. 9, 2024. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday kicked off a special nationwide anti-polio campaign as part of efforts to completely eradicate polio from the South Asian country. (Xinhua)

ISLAMABAD, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday kicked off a special nationwide anti-polio campaign as part of efforts to completely eradicate polio from the South Asian country.

"Our efforts to eliminate polio from Pakistan are certainly bearing fruit ... The federal government, in collaboration with provincial governments and partners, will succeed in eliminating polio from the country," the prime minister said during a launching ceremony.

He said that the role of parents is crucial in ensuring that their children receive the polio vaccine to protect them from lifelong disability, adding that friendly international organizations and partners are cooperating with the Pakistani government in its fight against polio.

Under the special vaccination drive, more than 30 million children up to age five would be administered polio drops by health workers across 115 districts of the country, according to the country's Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination.

Also, over 286,000 polio workers will go door-to-door to administer polio drops to the children.

Pakistan has reported 17 polio cases so far this year. A total of 12 cases were reported from southwest Balochistan province, while three cases were reported from the southern Sindh province, and one each from the eastern Punjab province and the federal capital Islamabad, respectively, according to the health ministry.

A health worker gives polio vaccination drops to a child during a special nationwide anti-polio campaign in southern Pakistani port city of Karachi on Sept. 9, 2024. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday kicked off a special nationwide anti-polio campaign as part of efforts to completely eradicate polio from the South Asian country. (Xinhua)

A health worker gives polio vaccination drops to a child during a special nationwide anti-polio campaign in southern Pakistani port city of Karachi on Sept. 9, 2024. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday kicked off a special nationwide anti-polio campaign as part of efforts to completely eradicate polio from the South Asian country. (Xinhua)