ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has launched an anti-polio campaign to administer the vaccine to more than 10 million children under five years of age, excerpts from a statement released on Monday read.
“Thousands of frontline workers will go from door to door to ensure more than 10.25 million children receive the two drops of the vaccine which will protect them against the poliovirus,” the statement by the National Emergency Operations Center Against Polio said, adding that despite significant achievements, the virus “finds way for its survival.”
“Therefore, a special immunization campaign (has been) planned in all the core reservoirs to kill the wild polio virus forever,” the statement added.
Pakistan is one of the three countries in the world, along with Afghanistan and Nigeria, where the polio virus remains endemic.
Despite concentrated efforts, Pakistan has not been able to eradicate the disease, with “23 cases of wild poliovirus reported in the country.”
On Monday, Babar bin Atta, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio requested parents to “avoid fake propaganda against the polio vaccine and vaccinate their children.”
In April this year, a misinformation campaign launched in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province triggered panic in the area, with mobs burning a village health center, blocking a highway and indulging in vandalism.
Pakistan launches anti-polio drive, aims to reach more than 10m children
Pakistan launches anti-polio drive, aims to reach more than 10m children
- Thousands of workers will be involved in administering the vaccine
- 23 cases have been reported in the country this year
Turkish agents capture senior Daesh member on Afghanistan-Pakistan border
- The Turkish citizen was allegedly tasked with suicide bombings in Turkiye, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Europe
- It was not clear when the operation took place or whether Afghan and Pakistani authorities were involved
ANKARA: Turkish intelligence agents have captured a senior member of the Daesh (Islamic State) group in an area along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, allegedly thwarting planned suicide attacks in Turkiye and elsewhere, Turkiye’s state-run news agency reported Monday.
Anadolu Agency said the suspect was identified as Mehmet Goren and a member of the group’s Afghanistan-based Daesh-Khorasan (IS-K) branch. He was caught in a covert operation and transferred to Turkiye.
It was not clear when the operation took place or whether Afghan and Pakistani authorities were involved.
The report said the Turkish citizen allegedly rose within the organization’s ranks and was given the task of carrying out suicide bombings in Turkiye, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Europe.
Daesh has carried out deadly attacks in Turkiye, including a shooting at an Istanbul night club on Jan. 1, 2017, which killed 39 people.
Monday’s report said Goren’s capture allegedly also exposed the group’s recruitment methods and provided intelligence on its planned activities.
