ISLAMABAD, April 3: Federal Minister for Health Mohammad Nasir Khan has said polio eradication is an international obligation and Pakistan is committed to achieving the polio-free status by the year end.

The minister stated this during a meeting with visiting WHO Director-General Dr J.W Lee and Regional Director EMRO to Pakistan Dr Hussein A. Gezairy.

The meeting reviewed the progress of polio eradication campaign and expressed its satisfaction over the efforts made by all concerned in this regard.

The WHO DG and regional director EMRO thanked Unicef, Ministry of Health and coordinating officers for their combined efforts and commitment towards achieving polio free status for Pakistan.

The minister said: “After years of hard work and sustained efforts, Pakistan today stands at the threshold of eradicating a disease that once paralyzed thousands of children in this country. With the continued support of our partners and the unrelenting efforts of the provincial and district health authorities, we stand very close to our cherished goal.”

He said: “The polio cases reported in the year 2004 were about 50 per cent less than the cases reported in 2003. Today, with four cases reported this year so far, we look at the situation with a cautious optimism. It is a significant development that the months of February and March have gone by without a single case being reported from anywhere in the country.”

Highlighting the commitments of political leadership, the minister said: “We must capitalize on this hopeful scenario and forge ahead with determination and added zeal. For a campaign of this nature and scale to be successful, political will is of paramount importance. In Pakistan, there has always been the political will at the highest level towards ridding the country of this scourge.”

The president and the prime minister have accorded the highest priority to this initiative. They seek regular reports on the progress made towards polio eradication. For this political will to translate into effort and achievement, the role of the political leadership at the district level is also of vital importance, Mr Khan said.

Acknowledging the importance of nazims, he said: “We all look up to you in making sure that your district is polio free like many districts of the country. Despite the successes achieved so far in polio eradication, we cannot be complacent. We need to push forward till we attain the final goal.”

Appreciating the efforts made by all concerned, he said: “I would request the district coordinating officers present here to maintain the momentum of the good work being done in their respective districts under the able leadership of their nazims, and ensure that polio eradication remains an emergency and a mission and does not descend into routine business.”

The district nazims and DCOs also briefed the meeting on anti-polio campaigns in their respective areas and assured the participants that in spite of some problems, they would be able to eradicate the menace this year.