ISLAMABAD, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's health minister Syed Mustafa Kamal has said that the country was committed to achieving a polio-free nation and protecting children's health through coordinated and sustained efforts.
"The eradication of polio remains a top national priority, and all available resources are being strategically deployed to achieve this critical objective," Kamal said at a recent meeting.
Commenting on a polio vaccination campaign during the first week of September, the minister said that a total of 19.8 million children across 81 high-risk districts were vaccinated during the campaign.
Kamal also stressed the importance of strategic communication initiatives to ensure that the campaign message reaches households prior to the arrival of polio vaccination teams, facilitating broader acceptance and coverage.
According to health officials, a total of 74 polio cases were reported in the country in 2024, and 26 new cases have been reported so far this year. ■
