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Pakistan hopeful of eradicating polio by 2016

Published

9 years ago

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Islamabad: A Pakistani official has said that a National Routine Immunisation Plan is in the pipeline aimed at permanently eradicating the disease from the country, the media reported on Saturday.

According to official figures, Pakistan had 306 polio cases in 2014, the highest in 14 years and majority of them were in the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. So far this year, 24 cases have been reported countrywide.

Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria are the only countries in the world which are still battling to eradicate polio.

Minister of State for National Health Services, Saira Afzal Tarar said the comprehensive immunisation plan would be aimed at eradicating the virus by next year.

“The prime minister has formed a Routine Immunisation Committee of the federal cabinet, comprising three members, including me and the defence minister, to prepare the strategy to permanently eradicate polio from the country,” she said.

She said despite the fact that anti-polio campaigns faced problems in areas where the law and order situation had worsened, a nationwide drive would be launched soon.

She added that 6,000 community health volunteers would be engaged to improve immunisation coverage in low coverage union councils by distributing vaccination cards, giving polio drops to eligible children and advocating with the community on routine immunisation.

Attempts to eradicate the disease have been badly hit by militant attacks on immunisation teams since December 2012.

Militants claim the polio vaccination drive is a front for espionage or a conspiracy to sterilise Muslims.

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Corona

Covid toll in Karnataka is a worrying sign for state government

Published

3 years ago

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May 4, 2022

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Even though Karnataka recorded the lowest number of Covid deaths in April since the virus struck first in 2020, the state is recording a rise in the positivity rate (1.50 per cent). Five people died from the Covid infections in April as per the statistics released by the state health department. In March, the positivity rate stood around 0.53 per cent. In the first week of April it came down to 0.38 per cent, second week registered 0.56 per cent, third week it rose to 0.79 per cent and by end of April the Covid positivity rate touched 1.19 per cent.

on an average 500 persons used to succumb everyday in the peak of Covid infection, as per the data. Health experts said that the mutated Coronavirus is losing its fierce characteristics as vaccination, better treatment facilities and awareness among the people have contributed to the lesser number of Covid deaths.

During the 4th and 6th of April two deaths were reported in Bengaluru, one in Gadag district on April 8, two deaths were reported from Belagavi and Vijayapura on April 30. The first Covid case was reported in the state in March 2020 and three Covid deaths were recorded in the month. In the following month 21 people became victims to the deadly virus, and May 2020 recorded 22 deaths. The death toll recorded everyday after May crossed three digits. However, the third wave, which started in January 2

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