ISLAMABAD: Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has said that cancer can be treated, but polio has no cure.
According to ARY News, he added that over 200 countries have completely eliminated polio, but the virus still exists in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Speaking at a polio workshop, the minister stressed the need for clean drinking water and proper sewage treatment. He praised Afghanistan’s vaccination efforts, saying the country may soon become polio-free.
He added, “We make people sick first and then build hospitals. Even if we build a hospital in every street, it won’t be enough.”
Mustafa Kamal also warned that Pakistan’s fast-growing population is putting pressure on resources. “If this continues, we may become the world’s fourth-largest population by 2030,” he said.
Meanwhile, the government has decided to start polio vaccination through injections in Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar, as per global health guidelines.
According to the polio program, children up to 15 years of age will be given polio injections during a special campaign over the next four months.
