March 06: Pakistan Muslim League (PML) is committed to eradication of polio from Pakistan, said Syed Faqir Hussain Bukhari, Central Senior Vice President of the Party at the briefing session organized by PILDAT on Enhancing the Effectiveness of Anti-Polio Vaccination Programme.

He said PML is committed that they will remove negative perception of polio vaccine by publically giving polio drops to their own children and will highlight the negative impact of Polio on population at private and public gatherings, talk shows and other interactions. He said that his party is also committed to supporting legislation for universal access to necessary routine immunization programmes, primary health and oversee its implementation and persuade the political leadership and the Government to increase health budget while monitor polio eradication campaigns and share feedback with officials concerned.

Earlier, Dr. Pervaiz Yousaf, Federal Surveillance Officer, World Health Organization (WHO) briefed the PML Members on the Status of �How Political Parties Oversee the operations of Expended Programme of Immunization. He said that Political Oversight includes National Task Force for Polio Eradication, National Steering Committee, President�s Polio Oversight Committee, PM Polio monitoring & coordination cell, Provincial Task Force / Steering Committee (PSC) and District Polio Eradication Committee (DPEC).

Emphasizing on role of political parties Mr. Azamat Abbas, Communication Specialist, UNICEF said that political parties can ensure polio is a part of their party�s manifesto and lobby for commitment from their party�s leadership for continuity during the coming election period and beyond. He said that political parties can remove negative perception of polio vaccine by publically giving polio drops to their children. He said that parties can report cases of official lethargy, negligence and issues that affect Polio campaigns. He added that parties should nominate a polio focal person within the party leadership who may coordinate for polio campaign.

The Briefing session with PML is a follow-up meeting of the �All Parties Conference� on Polio Eradication-A National Emergency in Pakistan held on Wednesday, December 19, 2012 in Islamabad where 14 major political parties signed a Joint Declaration while committing that Eradication of Polio will be carried out by the Political Parties in their coming Election Manifestos.

Members of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) who participated in the Briefing Session included Syed Faqir Hussain Bukhari, Central Senior Vice President, Mrs. Amina Khanam, Vice President Central Women Wing, Mrs. Shabnam Rukhsana, Vice President PML Main Stream, PML, Mrs. Sultan Gull, Vice President Culture Wing, PML, Mr. Ghulam Mustafa Malik, Central Deputy Secretary Information, PML, Mrs. Shakira Anwar, President, PML, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mrs. Rifat Sarwar, President, PML, Federal Capital, Mrs. Fouzia Naz, Secretary General, Central Women Wing, PML, Mrs. Saheen Rasul, Senior Vice President, Cultural Wing, PML, Babu Ghulam Sarwar Siyal, Secretary General, Sindh, PML, Mrs. Khalida Ali, Information Secretary, Islamabad, PML and Mr. Ghulam Mustafa Malik, Central Deputy Secretary Information, PML.

The meeting was also attended by Mr. Azmat Abbas, Communications Specialist, UNICEF, Ms. Huma Arif Khan, Communications for Development Officer, Dr. Pervaiz Yousaf, Federal Surveillance Officer, WHO, Dr. Altaf Bosan, National Coordinator, Prime Minister Polio Cell and Ms. Wajiha Kanwal, Advocacy Coordinator Prime Minister Polio Cell.

PILDAT organized the briefing session on enhancing the effectiveness of Anti-Polio for PML in association with UNICEF, Pakistan under the Project on �To Raise Awareness among Parliamentarians to Enhance the Effectiveness of Anti-Polio.�