Islamabad, January 18, 2018: Federal Minister for National Health Regulations and Coordination Saira Afzal Tarrar and Prime Minister’s Focal person for Polio Eradication, SenatorAyesha Raza Farooq have strongly condemned the cowardly attack on innocent polio worker in Balochistan in which two front line workers have been martyred by the terrorists.
Two Sehat Muhafiz; namely Sakeena Bibi with her daughter Rizwana Bibi were martyred by two unidentified motorcycle riders as both were vaccinating children during an on-going national campaign against polio. The incident took place in Salkot, an area in the vicinity of Quetta. Security forces have cordoned off the area and intense search is underway to find the culprits. Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Abdul Qadoos Bazinjo has condoled with the family and ordered the police to arrest the culprits at the earliest.
Both the federal minister and PMFP said that terrorists cannot deter the resolve of the nation by doing such inhumane acts. “The martyred workers have rather rekindled our resolve to finish the polio from the country and save our future generations from this deadly disease,” they said in a statement.
“We sympathize with the bereaved family and pray for the departed souls”, they added. Pakistan Polio Programme has made great stride in the past couple of years as from 306 reported polio cases in 2014, we have recorded eight cases in 2017. All this progress is a testament to the dedication, hard work and sacrifices of our front line health workers, security personnel and support staff. “Our success thus far and our struggle towards complete eradication of polio is dedicated to workers like Shaheed Sakeena and her daughter Shaheed Rizwana,” they added.