Govt working on emergency basis to eradicate poliovirus: minister.

PESHAWAR -- The government was working on emergency lines to achieve its goal of making the province free of poliovirus, said Provincial Minister for Health Taimur Khan Jhagra.

Addressing a news conference here on Thursday, he said that government was well-prepared to tackle the threats posed by the outbreak of 2019-Novel Coronavirus in neighbouring China.

He said that security of vaccinators was enhanced for National Immunisation Day anti-polio vaccination drive starting on Monday. 'We have enhanced security of the health workers, who go door-to-door in the entire province to ensure immunisation of children. They are our heroes,' he said.

The minister, who recently assumed charge of health department in addition to his permanent portfolio finance, said that poliovirus had long been eradicated from the world except Pakistan and Afghanistan where the virus was in circulation and rendered unvaccinated children crippled.

'We have to do away with misconceptions surrounding polio immunisation to safeguard our children from vaccine-preventable childhood ailment,' he said.

Taimur Jhagra says security of vaccinators enhanced

Mr Jhagra lauded the efforts of vaccinators and said that security was further beefed up in view of attacks on health workers during polio duty so that they could work in safe environment. However, he cautioned the polio staff against showing laxity in duty and warned them of strict action.

The minister said that government would issue Sehat Insaf Cards to the entire population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from the new financial year to enable them to get free treatment at the hospital on government's expense.

He said that notifications issued by two ministers appointing focal person and a committee to run the hospitals...