Action plan made for eradication of polio: Gilani

PERTH: Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that efforts were afoot for combating polio in the country under an action plan made for its eradication.

In a press conference along with the prime ministers of Australia, Britain and Canada besides Nigeria’s president on the eve of Commonwealth heads of government meeting here, Yusuf Raza Gilani said this.

The prime minister said that 132 cases of polio were recorded across the country. He said that the campaign for eradication of polio being launched after every three months in the country. He said that the teams for eradication of polio have been constituted on the provincial and district levels. He further said that President Zardari’s daughter Asifa Bhutto was the ambassador of polio eradication campaign.

However, PM Gilani said that some difficulties being faced in respect of polio eradication campaign in the tribal areas and ulemas help sought paving the way for continuing the campaign unhindered.

The world leaders on this occasion expressed their resolve for the eradication of polio and pledged several million dollars for raising new funds for this purpose.

Australia Prime Minister, Julia Gillard said that her country would be contributing $53.5 million in the next four years for the global campaign against polio.