ISLAMABAD: Ministry of National Health Services has again sought clerics’ cooperation to ensure success of nine polio campaigns planned during the current low transmission season.

The first campaign will start on September 14 during which 36 million children will be vaccinated. It may be mentioned that the low transmission season starts in September and ends in May.

Due to low temperatures in this period, the poliovirus becomes less effective.

On Saturday, the ministry invited 82 Ulema from different schools of thought to a workshop.

Addressing the ‘Polio orientation and health awareness workshop of Ulema’, Federal Secretary Health Ayub Sheikh said the clerics can play a vital role in controlling the virus.

Mr Sheikh said National Action Plan had enabled access to children in the inaccessible areas.

Haji Mohammed Hanif Tayyab, the chairman of Pakistan Polio Plus Ulema Committee, said all religious scholars had agreed that polio vaccination did not harm children.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play