Indian Overseas Congress -Chaiman Dr.Sam Pitroda, held video conference with senior IOC officials across Middle Eastern countries on Tuesday, 14th April 2020, to review the impact of COVID-19 Pandemic among Indians residing in the region. Almost all speakers appreciated the efforts initiated and implemented by respective governments to contain spread of the deadly virus as well as measures taken towards welfare of the people affected by the lockdown.
IOC Presidents, Mohammed Mansour - Bahrain, Abdullah Manjeri - Saudi Arabia, Dr J Ratan Kumar - Oman and Girish Kumar - Qatar, highlighted the quality treatment of patients and financial aid provided by governments and other authorities. Bahrain IOC president Mansour, also apprised about the 'Food for Needy' drive in Association with KHK Heroes foundation, initiated by HH Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Khalifa and quality treatments as well as financial aid to local and expat residents.
Anura Mathai, IOC Global Event Coordinator, spoke about certain problems of Indians in the UAE. IOC Middle East Convener, Mansoor Palloor, emphasised and requested IOC Chairman to urge Indian government to arrange immediate repatriation of indians stranded in Gulf countries. AICC Secretary, Himanshu Vyas, IOC Secretary Dr Arathi Krishna, Dr Arshi Malik (Abha), Mohiuddin Sirajudeen (Jeddah), Advocate Joseph Palathara (Dammam) Prasad Kodru, Jayati Maitra Ziyad Ahmed (Qatar) and Khursheed Alam (Gen Secretary- Bahrain) also apprised the participants about various issues relevant to the pandemic and suggested further initiatives to be undertaken. Dr Sam Pitroda briefed about sustained and consolidated efforts by all IOC members during this unprecedented situation facing the world and assured that he would convey IOC concerns to the government and try his best to ensure all possible help is made available to all needy Indians abroad.
Dr. Sam thanked to all the participating congress fraternity.
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ISLAMABAD: At least two more cases of poliovirus were reported in Pakistan, taking the number of infections to 52 so far this year, a report said on Friday.
“The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health has confirmed the detection of two more wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases in Pakistan," an official statement said.
The fresh infections — a boy and a girl — were reported from the Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
“Genetic sequencing of the samples collected from the children is underway," the statement read. Dera Ismail Khan, one of the seven polio-endemic districts of southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has reported five polio cases so far this year.
Of the 52 cases in the country this year, 24 are from Balochistan, 13 from Sindh, 13 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.
There is no cure for polio. Only multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completion of the routine vaccination schedule for all children under the age of five can keep them protected.