KARACHI, Oct 15: Provincial Health Minister, Maj-Gen Ahsan Ahmed (Rtd), has called for continuity of the steps taken for the eradication of polio which produced successful results during the last 36 months.

He stated this while presiding over a meeting here held to review the steps taken in the past and to discuss the actions to be taken in the future for the eradication of polio. The meeting also discussed the drawbacks noticed in carrying out the anti-polio drives.

The health minister expressed satisfaction over the successful conduct of anti-polio campaigns, and hoped that after his departure as minister, the officials of the health department would continue to work with the same spirit so that polio is eradicated by the year’s end.

Ahsan Ahmed observed that the anti-polio campaigns have covered 94 per cent of Sindh with the cooperation of health officials, EDOs and workers, besides the WHO and UNICEF, adding that polio cases are continuously on the decline.

He pointed out that 274 polio cases were reported in 1997. The number came down to 24 by Sept of last year, and further declined to 19 till Sept of this year.

The minister expressed hope that the disease will be eliminated by December of this year.—APP/PPI