Kuwaiti Health Ministry supports efforts to eradicate polio

ISLAMABAD, Oct 10 (KUNA) -- Kuwait's Ministry of Health expressed its support for efforts to eradicate polio from the region in the near future.
Kuwait, in particular, according to WHO's recommendations, has switched from the use of oral vaccine triphosphate to oral vaccine bivalent, Dr. Fawaz Al-Refai, Head of Pediatrics at Al-Adan Hospital said.
Kuwait's Health Ministry also organizes regular awareness campaigns and annual vaccinations for the disease, said Kuwait's delegate at the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean's 64th session.
The country has been free from polio since 1986, he added, and has a vigilant surveillance system for cases of suspected polio at the level of primary health care and hospitals.
However, Dr. Al-Refai noted that despite a clear reduction in polio rates in the region, some cases are still recorded, especially in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Syria.
In this regard, on behalf of Kuwait, he thanked Pakistan, Afghanistan and WHO for announcing precautionary measures against those coming from affected areas. (pickup previous) sbk.sd