Karachi, December 3, 2015: Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio, Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq interacted with a select group of civil society activists and media personals in Karachi to introduce her Mandatory Immunization Bill draft. Addressing to the participants, she presented the salient features of the Islamabad Mandatory Vaccination Bill and stressed on the need of a uniform compulsory immunization law across the country to help save lives. Highlighting the current plight of Routine Immunization and Polio Eradication, Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq expressed that percentage of fully immunization children in Sindh and Balochistan are 29 % and 16 % respectively that is dismal. “Strengthening Routine Immunization is the solution for Polio Eradication in the country, she further added. Making Immunization a compulsory practice across country will help in improving the current state of affairs and to sustain the dream of Polio Free Pakistan”. She added.

Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq stressed that one out of every 10 children fails to reach its 5th birthday and major burden is due to vaccine preventable diseases. “We can protect these children through strengthenin Compulsory Immunization to eradicate Poliovirus is a need, Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio

g and promoting Routine Immunization program as it is our collective responsibility”, she opined. “Deaths of children should not be seen as mere statistics and numbers, these are our future generation and we owe to give them a healthy life”, Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq expressed.

Urging the role of civil society in raising voice to promote compulsory vaccination she underlined the importance of creating an enabling environment where immunization is seen as a basic right of every child.

Civil Society activists and media representatives also appreciated the initiative of the National Child Health Consortium that has given a platform to civil society leaders to gather and contribute in different ways to support compulsory vaccination in the country. Participants accepted the membership of the National Child Health Consortium and pledged to contribute for the cause in all possible manner. Civil Society leaders also urged the Provincial Governments to support uniform immunization law across the country to protect lives.