ISLAMABAD: A delegation of Rotary International representatives of End Polio Now Campaign led by International Polio Plus Committee Chairman Michael K McGovern on Tuesday called on Acting President Mian Raza Rabbani at the Aiwan-e-Sadr here.
Michael McGovern briefed the acting president about the programmes and activities of the Rotary International and said that his organisation was supporting Pakistan not only for eradication of polio but also in increasing literacy and providing clean drinking water to the people.
He expressed his satisfaction at the efforts of the federal and provincial governments, commitment of Pakistani leadership and dedication of the people to eliminate polio and expressed his optimism that Pakistan was close to creating history by soon completely eliminating the polio virus.
Besides vaccines, the Rotary was also providing coolers, refrigerators and umbrellas and setting up health camps, he informed the acting president. “Pakistan is likely to succeed in completely eradicating polio very soon,” Raza Rabbani informed the delegation.
The acting president said that the total number of polio victims has been reduced substantively in Pakistan due to the efforts of the government. “Pakistan is beholden to Rotary for massive resource mobilisation for polio eradication,” he said, adding that he was looking forward to greater collaboration with the Rotary to end polio.
He assured the Rotary of total commitment and sustained efforts from the federal and provincial governments to completely eliminate the polio menace. The military operation in tribal areas has helped to extend the outreach for eradication of polio due to which additional 600,000 children have been administered polio drops.
Paying tributes to the polio health workers, the acting president remarked that their commitment was unshakable despite loss of lives. He said that the workers have now been provided wide security cover to facilitate them in their noble work. He thanked the Rotary International for supporting Pakistan’s cause at different world forums.
