New York: UNICEF Tuesday warned Pakistan that it could be world’s last polio reservoir in way of disease eradication.
As many as 63 new polio cases have been reported in Pakistan this year.
Daniel Toole, UNICEF s Regional Director for South Asia who is in Pakistan to meet government and UN officials, has stressed the need to urgently improve local polio response, vaccination outreach, management and accountability for results.
“We must ensure access to all children as specified in the President s National Emergency Action Plan for Polio Eradication in Pakistan. We have a huge task ahead of us, and we must build on lessons learned and act now,” Toole said.
Since beginning of the year, Pakistan has continued to see rising numbers of polio cases. In 2011, a total of 63 cases were reported compared to 36 in the same period last year.
Balochistan province has reported 22 polio cases this year, more than any other region in Pakistan.
The virus, which circulated in five high-risk districts in Balochistan, has spread to districts previously not infected for the past five years.
The militancy-hit tribal belt has reported 20 cases, Sindh province has 14, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province has six, and Gilgit-Baltistan has one case.
Punjab, with 60 per cent of Pakistan s population, has not reported any cases of polio this year and UNICEF said this was a “major accomplishment that must be sustained”.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription