KP Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra has said that with only two polio cases surfaced during 2016, as compared to 179 in 2014, we are very much close to polio eradication in FATA. He was addressing an impressive ceremony to mark the launching of the First Polio Eradication campaign in FATA of 2017 at Governor's House here on Monday.
The governor also formally administered drops of polio vaccination vaccine to children in presence of a large number of participants.
"We are here with an understanding to make FATA Polio Free by March 2017", the governor said at0 the largely attended ceremony by all concerned.
Engr Iqbal Zafar Jhagra said that political commitment, involvement of civil society, religious scholars (Ulema) and media have played a vital role in achieving appreciable results.
He appreciated the efforts of parents, the communities, levies force, Pak army and polio teams in FATA for extraordinary efforts and achievements in this respect.
He said, "I am confident that with the support of security agencies, polio teams could meet any challenge to reaching out and vaccinate every child and eradicate polio from FATA up till March 2017."
"Indeed it was an unprecedented team effort from EOC, parliamentarians, Ulemas and communities which have brought FATA so close to polio eradication", he said.
"However, we cannot afford to relax now and ensure that there is dire need during next three campaigns of 2017 will defeat polio virus from this entire tribal belt," he added.
He said that despite having a huge and porous border with Afghanistan, one must commend the efforts of polio teams including administrative and health officials for almost eliminating polio virus from tribal regions.
He urged the concerned officials to extend all possible help and support to polio teams to achieve the goal of polio eradication in FATA.