By Rafiullah Mandokhail
ZHOB: Tribal elders and political leaders have been urged to play their key role in fighting against poliomyelitis during a seminar organized by the ComNet here in Sherani district. Notables, political and social activists, health officials, and representatives of various non-governmental organizations attended the day-long seminar.
Communication Officer ComNet Sherani Saeedullah Lawoon in his welcome remarks said that polio is a crippling disease and its virus invades the nervous system of under five children. He urged the participants to play their vital role in the complete eradication of poliovirus.
Assistant Commissioner Sherani Yousaf Hashmi, DHO Dr Saif ud Din Bugti, Dr Khair Muhammad Sherani, Dr Muhammad Shah Sherani, Communication Officer ComNet Zhob Samad Hariphal, Coordinator BLEP Muhammad Afzal Kakar, social activist Ali Sherani and Juma Muhammad Hariphal also spoke on the occasion and said that polio is a highly infectious disease caused by poliovirus mainly affecting children under the age of five years. Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan are the only two countries in the Mediterranean region, where poliovirus still exists. Lack of community participation and negative propaganda against vaccine remained the major challenges in the fight against polio.
“Although the polio eradication programme still faces challenges including community resistance, hard to reach areas, and inaccessibility, but continuous efforts have led to drastically cutting down hesitancy against polio vaccination.” They said.
They appealed to parents to ensure that their children of less than five years of age are vaccinated against polio during the upcoming anti-polio drive that starts on September 9th and save them from permanent disability.