Ms. Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, delivered a keynote address at the 72nd WHO EMRO Regional Committee in Cairo, underlining Pakistan’s long-term commitment to polio eradication and the nation’s progress.
For more than three decades Pakistan has pursued the goal of ending poliovirus, and today more than 400,000 frontline health workers travel door to door across the country to reach children. Around 60 percent of these workers are women, and their sustained efforts ensure that some 45 million children under five receive life-saving polio drops during immunization campaigns.
Ms. Farooq said the work to end polio goes beyond vaccination and strengthens Pakistan’s health system by improving disease surveillance, enhancing routine immunization coverage, and extending nutrition and hygiene services to underserved communities. She highlighted how these integrated efforts contribute to broader public health gains while keeping focus on polio eradication.
“Our story is defined by resilience and determination to end the threat of paralyzing poliovirus, not only for Pakistan, but for every child and the generations to come,” Ms. Farooq said, acknowledging the challenges that remain while reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to finish the job.
She expressed gratitude to regional and global partners for their continued solidarity and support, specifically citing WHO, UNICEF, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt. Ms. Farooq emphasized that sustained partnership and local commitment are essential to secure a polio-free future for every child in Pakistan.
