UNICEF and Pakistan’s federal Minister at odd with each other

PAKISTAN, ISLAMABAD: The UNICEF representative for Pakistan Martin Mogwanja has strongly rejected the remarks of former federal minister, Raza Hayat Hiraj, about polio vaccine being contaminated by water as highly irresponsible.

Mr. Mogwanja has declared that UNICEF, being an international agency, has always provided internationally acclaimed and accredited medicines worldwide; purchased on wholesale basis, and thoroughly tested in its laboratories. He declared that the polio vaccine provided to Pakistan in 2002 was also checked and accredited as under usual procedures, with absolutely no question of it being contaminated with water.

He expressed his deep regrets about the statement of the minister, while federal minister for health, Makhdoom Shahabuddin has also expressed his regrets and assured for a clarification from the former federal minister, Raza Hayat Haraj; since the vaccine was introduced at a time , when Raza Haraj was himself state minister for health.

The current health minister expressed his chagrin at the fact that, the former state minister for health kept silent at the time the vaccine was introduced, and was bent on spewing the truth after 8 years.