QUETTA, Sept 19: A 34-year-old New Zealander, Jurgen Homann, who was travelling around the world on his motorcycle on an anti-polio mission, arrived here on Thursday.

Speaking at a press conference soon after his arrival in this provincial capital, he said that he would visit 39 countries to create awareness about waging a fight against polio. Already, he had travelled 23 countries in this connection, covering a distance of 55,000 kilometre.

Homann, who is German-born, said he started his adventure around the world to advocate for the eradication of the disease with his friend, Dirk Bachmann, in 2000.

Taking leave from work, they committed themselves to the campaign, travelling on motorcycle from countries to countries, to help eradicate polio by 2005 as UNICEF’s goodwill Ambassadors.

He said he set out on his Asia mission in February, 2002, during which he, for the first time, got the opportunity to immunise children against polio.

He plans to proceed to Iran, UAE, Turkey and finally into Europe by the end of this year.

Eradicating polio is possible as we are so close to eliminating the virus, he said. By increasing awareness and commitment, we can fight the disease. Until the mission meets with success, it needs to be everyone’s concern, he said.