Mobilink committed to create a Polio-free Pakistan

Karachi: May 27, 2009: Mobilink, Pakistan’s market leader in cellular services  and part of Orascom Telecom Holding, reiterated its commitment to Ministry  of  Health,  UNICEF,  WHO and other partner organizations working towards  the  eradication  of  polio in Pakistan on the eve of the National Polio Round to be conducted from May 28 to May 30, 2009.

Commenting  on  Mobilink’s  role,  Omar  Manzur,  Director Corporate Social Responsibility and Public Relations, Mobilink said, “Pakistan is one of the last   four  countries  where  children  continue  to  fall  prey  to  this debilitating disease. Mobilink endorses the vision of the polio eradication fraternity  to  create  a  Pakistan that is free from polio. We continue to educate  our consumers and are already sending out SMS updates to encourage parents to vaccinate their children in the current National Polio Round.”

Under the current round a total of 86,744  Polio teams will be conducting a door-to-door campaign with an aim to reach 33.6 million children under five years  of  age  across Pakistan between May 28 and May 30 2009. Parents can also  reach  the Polio Eradication Cell by calling  0800-76546 in case they miss  the  Polio  Team’s  visit.  This  is  the  third national polio round undertaken towards creating a polio free Pakistan.

Last  month  Mobilink joined hands with Ministry of Health and other members of  the Polio Eradication Initiative to reach out to millions of parents in select  high-risk  zones  across  Pakistan. More than 7 million people were reached  with the message to vaccinate their children against polio. On the occasion,  Federal  Health  Minister Mir Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani appreciated the  lead  taken  by  Mobilink,  the only telecom operator to have extended support  to  the  drive.