Abu Dhabi CP orders launch of polio vaccination campaign in Pakistan

SWAT: Sept 18, 2012 (WAM) - General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has ordered the launch of a humanitarian campaign to vaccinate 20,000 Pakistani children against measles and polio in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region in Pakistan. The move follows the directives by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The UAE’s Pakistan Assistance Project Administration commenced the campaign yesterday, which will run till Sept. 21. The administration said on Monday in a statement, “The implementation of a vaccination campaign is a genuine translation of the directives by Sheikh Khalifa and orders of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince to enhance health programmes and curb the spread of epidemics in areas hard hit by floods, and in support of the concerted international efforts to eradicate measles and polio disease.” It added that the vaccination campaign against measles and polio is carried out in co-operation with the Pakistani Army, the Ministry of Health and specialised medical cadres. Five health centres have been set up in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region to provide the vaccination for 20,000 Pakistani children. The statement said according to Unicef reports “measles is prevalent among Pakistani children”. The statistics show there are 2.1 million cases of measles reported annually that claim the lives of 21, 000 children every year. “One third of children in Pakistan do not receive immunisation against measles.” Regarding polio, Pakistan had registered last year the highest cases over last 10 years, 198 cases. Pakistan is one of four countries worldwide in which polio has been reported. – Emirates News Agency, WAM