Islamabad, 2 Sep, 2023 (GNP): The journalist community has committed to collaborating closely with the government to ensure a polio-free Pakistan, in a gathering at a local hotel in Murree.
The pledge came during a workshop organized by the Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR) in partnership with the Punjab Emergency Operations Centre, titled “Last Mole, Reaching Last Child.”
The workshop saw the active participation of officials from international partners working on polio eradication, including representatives from WHO and UNICEF. Journalists from prominent media organizations were also present.
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The backdrop of the workshop was marked by the detection of positive environmental samples in Lahore and Rawalpindi. It was revealed that two environmental samples tested positive in Rawalpindi, and three in Lahore this year.
While Punjab hasn’t reported a polio case for over three years, the presence of the virus in environmental samples indicates an ongoing risk to children.
Dr. Nauman, the polio focal person for a tehsil in Rawalpindi, explained that these samples were collected from 31 sites across 19 districts in Punjab.
The virus found in Rawalpindi is associated with the YB3A cluster active in Afghanistan, while the virus detected in Lahore is linked to Kandahar, he said.
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Dr. Nauman emphasized that although there has been no indigenous virus circulation in Punjab, the province remains vulnerable to virus importation.
To prevent the reintroduction of the virus in Punjab, a mass campaign with community engagement components has been initiated, focusing on registering all communities to ensure no child goes unvaccinated, he added.
