Punjab Health Minister Dr Tahir Ali Javed said that the government had almost eradicated polio from the province through its 'polio eradication strategy' and with the help of donor agencies.
He said all possible medical aid (preventive & treatment) was also being provided to the earthquake victims, specially children.
He expressed these views while administering polio drops to children in connection with anti-polio campaign at Children Hospital Lahore on Wednesday.
The minister also administered drops to the quake-affected children admitted in the children hospital.
The polio campaign would continue till November 24. Professor Dr Sajid Maqbool, PD Dr Tahir Masood, MS Dr Waheed Rathore, DG Health Chaudhry Aslam and a delegation from York Hill Children Hospital Glasgow, England were also present on the occasion.
The minister said that for the prosperity of the masses, the complete elimination of fatal diseases was necessary and the government would soon launch a campaign against hepatitis B&C like the anti-polio campaign.
During the present anti-polio campaign 15.2 million children, under 5 year would be vaccinated and for this 37,286 EPI teams would visit door-to-door in the province, he added.
He said, 1,157 zonal supervisors had been deputed for monitoring, besides appointment of 6,224 area in charges for this purpose. Whereas 269 campaign support persons would also observe the campaign besides the provincial health authorities, he maintained.
He appealed to the ulemas to come forward and help the government to create awareness among general public against this menace and persuade the parents for the administration of polio drops to their children. He urged ulema to brief the people regarding this in their sermons.
He said that polio vaccine was effective/safe and repeated doses of polio vaccine could save the children from this curse. He said that it was the common responsibility of teachers, parents, public opinion leaders and specifically the ulema to play their effective role in this social service.