ISLAMABAD, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that his country is committed to completely eradicating poliovirus by 2025 and special measures are afoot to further enhance the vaccination coverage.
"A whole-of-government approach has been adopted to eradicate polio. We are doing our best to eradicate this deadly virus by 2025," said the prime minister while chairing a review meeting on anti-polio on Friday.
He said that all the resources of the state are being utilized for the complete elimination of polio from the country, adding that multiple doses of vaccine will be given to every child in Pakistan.
The provision of the polio vaccine should be ensured to every child in areas where there are security challenges, Sharif said, highlighting that the country has made significant progress against polio with the dedication of frontline workers and the support of partners.
Talking about the new polio cases registered recently in the South Asian country, the prime minister said that the emergence of new polio cases is worrisome, hoping that the crippling disease will be defeated with the support of provincial governments and partners.
Pakistan has so far reported 14 polio cases this year. A total of 11 cases have been reported from the southwestern Balochistan province, two from the southern Sindh province and one from the eastern Punjab province. ■
