Abdul Basit lauds media's role in polio eradication

In a recent ceremony at the Peshawar Press Club, Abdul Basit, the Special Secretary of the Health Department and Coordinator of the Emergency Operation Centre in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, emphasized the crucial role of media in the national duty of eradicating polio. Basit highlighted the successful collaboration between the Press Club and the EOC, aiming to eliminate polio from the province.

Basit commended the efforts of polio workers who continue to work tirelessly despite challenges and harsh conditions. He noted a significant decrease in polio cases in the province, with only four cases reported last year and none this year. Basit also addressed the misinformation surrounding polio campaigns, stressing the safety and effectiveness of the polio vaccine.

Highlighting the importance of media support, Basit mentioned that around 95% of children in the province are covered in vaccination drives, with only a small percentage missing out due to various reasons. He urged the media to play a vital role in countering anti-polio propaganda and promoting the vaccination campaigns.

Basit underlined that Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries in the world where polio virus still exists, emphasizing the need for continued efforts to achieve a polio-free region. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Peshawar Press Club and the Emergency Operation Centre marks a significant step towards this goal.