PESHAWAR: With a view to highlight the importance of vaccination and involve multiple stakeholders as advocates for polio vaccination a daylong Sehat Muhafiz Cricket Tournament was organised by Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in collaboration with the district management at Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium here on Wednesday.

Provincial Minister for Sports and Tourism Atif Khan was chief guest on the occasion. EOC coordinator Kamran Afridi, Peshawar deputy commissioner Imran Sheikh, MNA Nasir Musazai, MPA Fazle Ilahi, journalists, lawyers, officials of EOC and representatives of district management were in attendance.

Speaking at the inaugural session, Atif Khan appreciated the programme organisers for holding a sports event to raise public awareness of the significance of polio vaccination. He said that participation from parliamentarians, media, bar council, district management and law enforcing agencies showed that people from various segments of life were aware of the threat posed by the crippling disease to the children and wanted to play their role in the noble cause.

The minister said that healthy life was the right of every child and it was the responsibility of every citizen to play their part in achieving the goal of polio-free Pakistan.

He assured support on behalf of sports department to polio eradication. Kamran Afridi thanked the participants and said that the event highlighted the importance of vaccination by engaging civil society.

He said that wild poliovirus was still circulating in environment that could hit children anytime. He underscored the need for vaccination of every child in every round of polio campaign.

MNA Nasir Musazai said that health was the top priority of the government and offered all-out assistance to achieve the goal of polio-free Pakistan.

Earlier, the Bar Council team clinched the trophy by outshining Peshawar Media team in the final. District Management and Parliamentarians were the other teams that participated in the event.

Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2019