Pakistan's Leaders Reaffirm Commitment to Polio Eradication on World Polio Day

Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have reaffirmed their commitment to eradicating polio in the country, the state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.

In separate messages on World Polio Day, they urged Pakistanis to continue working towards a polio-free Pakistan. They called upon all parents and caregivers to ensure that every child under five receives two drops of the polio vaccine during each polio campaign.

President Zardari highlighted Pakistan's significant progress towards polio eradication, stating that the number of cases has fallen by 99.8 percent.

Prime Minister Sharif said that the theme of this year's World Polio Day, "One Day, One Focus: Ending Polio," underscores the importance of collective resolve and concerted action to eliminate the disease.

Pakistan, along with Afghanistan and Nigeria, is one of the three countries where polio has not been yet eradicated. The country has made significant progress in recent years, with a substantial decrease in polio cases.

The global effort to eradicate polio is led by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, a partnership of governments, international organizations, and NGOs. Despite challenges, Pakistan continues to work towards a polio-free future, with the government and international partners implementing vaccination campaigns and other initiatives to protect children from the disease.