February 14, 2008	Thursday	Safar 06, 1429

QUETTA, Feb 13: The technical officer of the World Health Organisation, Dr Liliane Buoalam, said on Wednesday that 1,278 polio cases, including 32 in Pakistan, were reported worldwide in 2007.

She said that there were still four polio endemic countries, India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan and eight re-affected countries. Addressing a news conference here, Dr Buoalam said that fewer cases had been reported worldwide in 2006 than in 2007.

She said that the eyes of the world were now on Pakistan for eradication of polio.

She said there was need for an active participation of the community in reaching out to all children below the age of five.

She also said both the central and provincial governments in Pakistan were determined to eradicate polio and ensure that polio drops were administrated to children everywhere.

She referred to efforts of Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries which had completely eradicated polio with the same strategy being applied in Pakistan.