ISLAMABAD - Twenty-four 24 polio cases have so far been reported in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
A meeting was held on Tuesday to review the situation with Saira Afzal Tarar, Minister for National Health Services Regulations and Coordination, who expressed her concern over increasing number of polio cases in Pakistan, especially in Fata and KP.
All meeting members paid immense homage to the courage of polio workers who instead of severe security threats are out in the field and performing their duties. The minister also condemned the latest killings and attacks on the polio workers and escorting policemen.
Officials of the PM Polio Cell while sharing details of the polio cases appeared this year apprised the meeting that 24 polio cases have been registered including 19 from North Waziristan Agency (NWA), one case form Khyber Agency, one from FR Bannu while three cases have been reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including two from Peshawar and one from Bannu.
The minister said, "Eradication of this crippling disease of polio is a top priority of the government and we are committed to stamp this menace out of our land."
The attacks on polio teams started back in 2012 when 11 members of polio teams were killed in Karachi, Quetta and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In 2013, 19 members of polio teams including police escorts have lost their lives in line of duty.
In 2014, 24 frontline workers and security personals have been killed and many others got injured.