THATTA, March 4: Speakers at a workshop held here on Monday underlined the importance of education in tackling the enormous problems being faced by the society.

They were speaking in the inaugural session of the social mobilization workshop for polio eradication and the opening ceremony of the evening and night OPD facility at the Thatta town dispensary.

The two programmes were presided over by the district Nazim, Syed Shafqat Hussain Shah Shirazi, and addressed by Dr Ashfaque Ahmed Qureshi, EDO (health) Ghulam Haider Arain, M. Bux Bhurgari, a representative of the World Health Organization and DDO (health) Dr Hafeez Memon.

Speakers said the community involvement was vital to overcome the problems in the health sector. So far 99 per cent polio had been eradicated from throughout the world except one per cent which was prevalent in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and seven African countries.

They said the target for total eradication of polio from the world entrusted by the world health assembly could not be achieved till 2000.

They said that nine taluka supervisors, 23 zonal staff, 75 area in charges, and 525 teams of volunteers would visit houses door-to-door on March 5, 6, and 7 to administer polio drops in the district.

They said that efforts were being made to achieve at least a target of 96 per cent this time where polio vaccination was concerned.

The participants were told that the district health department had set up seven health camps at different interior sites to facilitate the populace on their doorsteps.

The Nazim advised that medical camps be extended to the level of each union council so that the population of all 55 union councils could benefit.

The participants were told that the standard of the Civil Hospital Makli had been improved and tests and x-rays were done round the clock.

Later, the Nazim inaugurated the night and evening OPD service at the town dispensary.