PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has said it is difficult but not impossible to eradicate poliovirus from the province, and wished the incumbent government takes credit for eradication of the crippling disease.

“The incumbent government is working for eradication of the poliovirus with a new resolve. We wish and we are trying to take credit its [poliovirus] eradication,” Mr Gandapur said, while addressing a meeting of the polio oversight board led by Dr Christopher Elias.

Mr Gandapur said the provincial government valued cooperation of the partner institutions in this regard, and would provide all possible support to them to achieve objectives, according to an official statement issued here on Sunday.

He said the parents refusing to inoculate their children against the crippling virus were required to be sensitized, adding local representatives should become part of the immunisation campaigns, and services of local representatives, religious scholars and eders should be utilised in that regard.

The chief minister said special attention would be given to the sensitive areas of the province, and stressed the need for mutual consultation and coordination of the local administration and partner institutions to achieve better results.

Mr Gandapur said a completely underground sewerage system was needed to be put in place to eradicate poliovirus in the provincial capital, adding the government was paying special attention to polio as well as other vaccines.

The statement said various matters and initiatives related to polio eradication activities in the province, challenges being faced to this effect and future course of action were discussed in the meeting.

Representatives of World Health Organisation, Unicef and other international partner agencies, provincial minister for health and chief secretary were also in attendance.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2024