Pakistan Super League’s Multan Sultans have joined hands with the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme to eradicate polio from the country. This critical partnership will leverage the influence of cricket stars to promote polio vaccination across Pakistan.
An MoU signing ceremony was held in Islamabad, led by the Punjab Emergency Operations Centre Coordinator Mr Khizer Afzaal. Multan Sultans General Manager Ms Hijab Zahid and Coordinator of the NEOC Dr Shahzad Baig signed the MoU.
“We are grateful to the Multan Sultans for partnering with us in this critical mission,” said Dr. Shahzad Baig. “Cricket unites our people, and the support of renowned cricketers will help drive the polio eradication message across the country.”
Ms. Hijab Zahid said, “We have entered this partnership to use the popularity of cricket and Multan Sultans to create awareness around polio. Cricket is the most followed sport in Pakistan, and we want to use it to take the message of polio eradication to every home.”
Under this partnership, Multan Sultans will promote polio eradication throughout the Pakistan Super League season. The Polio Programme’s logo will be featured on the team’s helmets, and players will record video messages advocating for vaccination.
The poliovirus actively infects children under five, causing a highly infectious disease. It can cause paralysis or even death. Vaccination is the most effective way to protect children from polio. Each vaccination increases a child’s protection against the virus. Repeated immunizations have protected millions of children, allowing most countries to become polio-free. However, Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the two endemic countries.
