Balochistan CM urges polio drops for every child on World Polio Day

QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti has said that the absence of any new polio case in the province since November 2024 is an important development. He made the remarks in his message on World Polio Day.

However, he said, continued surveillance, effective strategy and an unbroken run of vaccination campaigns are essential to sustain this success and make the province fully safe from polio.

The Chief Minister said polio is a preventable disease, but it can leave children disabled for life.

Protecting children from this dangerous disease is the shared responsibility of the government, parents and every member of society. Parents’ full cooperation in every drop campaign is of fundamental importance to ending polio.

Mir Sarfraz Bugti said that no new cases in Balochistan are an important result of the continued efforts of the departments concerned and polio workers. However, he said, this progress should not be taken as a sign that the polio virus has been eliminated completely.

Emphasis on monitoring the virus

Children can be kept safe only by detecting the presence of the virus in time, testing environmental samples and closely monitoring high-risk areas.

The Chief Minister said that strict surveillance, ensuring the quality of campaigns, reaching children who miss vaccination and accountability at every level are fundamental to a successful strategy against polio.

The authorities concerned should ensure that no child is left without the drops during vaccination campaigns and that immediate action is taken on any possible presence of the virus.

Appeal to polio workers and parents

Praising the services of polio workers, he said they are playing an important role in protecting children from disease in difficult areas and under hard conditions. It is also necessary to ensure their safety, facilities and effective support.

Mir Sarfraz Bugti urged parents to have all their children under five years of age given polio drops in every campaign and to complete the routine immunisation schedule as well.

He said that ulema, tribal elders, teachers, social leaders and the media should also play their part in raising public awareness and further strengthening trust in the polio vaccine.

The Chief Minister expressed the resolve that ongoing efforts to eradicate polio in Balochistan would be made more effective so that every child could be given a safe and healthy future.