The Emergency Operations Centre of Punjab (EOCP) organized a bicycle rally in Lahore Town Hall to mark the World Polio Day on October 24, 2020. 

The day was observed with a view to renewing pledge to wipe out polio from Pakistan. 

The cycle rally was themed "Ride for a Cause" and it included a polio campaign inauguration and an award distribution ceremony. 

The ceremony was participated by District Governor Tazeem Ahmad, AG Rtn. Faheem Asghar - Member EOC Punjab, Rtn. PP Nusrat Chishti & Rtn. Ch. Siddique Jatt from Rotary District 3272, students from various departments of Punjab University, the DC Lahore, Commissioner Lahore, Punjab Polio programme Head Ms. Sundas Irshad and polio eradication partners.

Head of the polio programme, Commissioner and DC Lahore handed over appreciation certificates to polio frontline workers to recognize their hard work and dedication in reaching every child. They also opened polio drive by administering drops to five children.

Earlier the Government officials and polio partners inaugurated the cycle rally which was held to spread awareness about the need for vaccination to eradicate polio from Punjab AG Rtn. Faheem Asghar along with his sons Ayyan Faheen & Yahya Faeem (Junior Ambassadors) lead the cycle rally on their branded End Polio Now Cycle.

EOC Coordinator Punjab Ms. Sundas Irshad said it was critically important that every child receives two drops of polio vaccine during the campaign days. She added that World Polio Day was an important occasion to derive strength from the past achievements in polio eradication in the world and also to realize that it is now time to renew our resolve to wipe out polio virus from the country, and the world. “Polio workers who are the backbone of the polio programme are our heroes and with their help we reached close to eradicating polio in the past. With their help we will turn the tide again”. 

 

“After 5-month interruption due to Covid, monthly polio campaigns have been resumed to ensure that virus transmission is interrupted. Parents should ensure that their children receive two drops of polio in every campaign”, reiterated the head of the polio programme.

Deputy Commissioner Lahore Mudassar Riaz Malik rode End Polio Now branded bicycle himself to drive home key message of polio vaccination to every child in every campaign. 

 

Commissioner Lahore, Deputy Commissioner Lahore, EOC Coordinator and renowned singer Jawad Ahmad appreciated the 3 cyclists from Rotary for their untiring efforts in Polio awareness through different ways.

The number of polio-affected children in Punjab has risen to 13, while the number of children affected with the paralytic virus has risen to 80 in Pakistan. Pakistan alongwith Afghanistan are the only countries left globally which are still endemic.