PESHAWAR: Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shah Farman and Governor Nangarhar Province Afghanistan, Ziaul Haq Amarkhel, reiterated strong commitment of their governments for polio eradication and vows to initiate joint efforts for stamping out polio virus from the last endemic region.

They stated this at a joint commemoration ceremony here Saturday at zero point to commemorate World Polio Day marked globally on October 24. Health Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Taimur Saleem Jhagra, GHQ representative Brig Bashir, Sector Commander FC Brig Shokat, Additional Secretary Health (Polio), Abdul Basit, Deputy Commissioner Khyber District Mahmood Aslam, ADC Khyber district Ashfaq, AC Landi Kotal Imran, provincial coordinator Rotary International Rauf Rohaila and representatives of technical partners were also present in the land mark event.

In a joint press statement issued on the occasion, Governors of the both sides agreed to strengthen coordination and to initiate synchronized polio campaigns to boost immunity of children living on both sides of the borders.

The statement read that the people living on both sides of the border share common language, cultural, religious and socio-economic ties unpinning the need for spearheading common interventions to increase community acceptance of vaccination. It was agreed to explore possible avenues of cooperation and advancing connectivity through existing government bodies like emergency operation centers (EOC) and cross border meetings for integrated services.

Earlier, Governors Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Nangarhar province of Afghanistan shook hands and exchanged bouquets as a good will gesture and vaccinated children to mark world polio day.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020