September 15, 2003	Monday	Rajab 17, 1424

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QUETTA, Sept 14: A polio monitoring cell will be established in the Governor’s Secretariat to closely monitor and appraise the ongoing polio eradication campaign in Balochistan.

This was stated by Balochistan Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani while speaking to WHO Regional Director Dr Hussein A. Gezairy, here on Saturday.

“I myself will monitor the quality of polio campaign during and after the drive,” said the governor.

Dr Gezairy briefed the governor about the polio situation in the province as well as in the country. He said Pakistan, where 25 per cent polio cases of the world were found a few years ago, had shown tremendous success against the deadly virus.

There are only 57 polio cases in the entire country and only nine in Balochistan.

“We must stop the virus circulation by the end of this year,” Dr Gezairy remarked. He drew the attention of the governor towards the importance of the involvement of religious leaders and Nazims who he said could play a decisive role in making Pakistan a polio-free country.

The WHO regional director pleaded to make religious leaders partners in the drive against polio and maintained that Madaris should also be involved. The students of the Madaris could be imparted health education in this regard.

Governor Awais Ahmed Ghani assured Dr Gezairy that he would make every effort to involve Nazims in the campaign.