ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq who was decorated on Pakistan Day with the coveted Sitara-i-Imtiaz by the President for her exceptional leadership in turning around the polio programme, has dedicated her award to the heroic efforts of the entire polio team across the country.   

“This award was received by me but belongs to each and everyone who has worked with missionary zeal, unflinching commitment and dedication to stop polio in its ranks,” said Senator Ayesha in a statement after receiving the award on Friday.

She added that with our collective effort we have defied the odds and turned around the Polio Eradication Programme from a raging outbreak in 2013-14 to reporting the lowest ever cases in the programme’s history in 2017. 

She made special mention of the National and Provincial Coordinators of the Emergency Operation Centres for polio for steering the programme ably and making all-out efforts to improve campaign quality.  

Since 2014, Pakistan’s polio eradication programme has registered an overall 97 per cent drop in wild poliovirus cases from 306 cases in 2014 to 8 cases in the last year. So far in 2018, Pakistan has not had a single case of polio and the polio eradication programme hopes to make 2018 the last year of poliovirus transmission.

This award is a recognition of the heroic effort of the brave foot soldiers of this programme-260,000 Sehat Muhafiz who trek the length and breadth of our great country spreading hope and light in the shape of polio drops to protect our children from lifelong disability, Senator Ayesha added.

The job of polio eradication is yet not finished and we will not rest till the destination of zero polio case is achieved. Under the leadership of the Prime Minister and with the strong commitment of the provincial leadership and most importantly parents we will continue to work hand in hand with our partners to achieve the cherished goal of a polio-free Pakistan, she added.