CHICAGO: Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, Consul General of Pakistan received the prestigious “Paul Harris Leadership Award” from John Osterlund, Chief Development Officer, Rotary International, for Global Campaign against Polio with over 300 eminent persons from different walks of life being present at an event titled “Ending Polio in Pakistan”.
The event was organized by Rotary International in collaboration with the Pakistani Consulate to discuss the final push to end polio in Pakistan and to celebrate and honor the selfless commitment for their work to eradicate this disease.
Tirmizi stated that Government of Pakistan’s National Emergency Action Plan has resulted in tremendous success which is evident from the fact that there was only one case of polio this year. It was found out a few days ago, even though the child had been given the drops twice. He hoped that this would be the last case of polio in Pakistan.
Tirmizi paid special tributes to about two lakh vaccinators, mostly female, who fought in the front lines in the global crusade against polio and, at times, even sacrificed their lives in the campaign.
He stated that the biggest challenge faced by the program was insecurity and the deadly attacks by militant groups on polio workers to derail the polio eradication program. However, he added, on account of the success of operation Zarb-i-Azab and the support provided by the armed forces in implementation of the campaign, Pakistan succeeded in achieving the target of zero transmission of the poliovirus.
John Orsterlund and Osei David Andrews-Hutchinson, District Governor of Rotary International, applauded Pakistan’s contributions in successfully grappling with the menace of polio as well as the continued sacrifices made by the Government and people of Pakistan.
Dr. Sajjid Mehmood, President Illinois Chapter of the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA), assured APPNA’s full support and technical assistance to Rotary International in its endeavor to end polio from the world.
Special video messages on the subject by Saira Afzal Tarar, Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination of Pakistan and Tehmina Janjua, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva were also played at the event.
Suresh Bodiwala
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