Internationally acclaimed Al-Az
har University of Islamic teachings warned against fatwas and said vaccination against the deadly Polio disease was a “religious, medical, and humanitarian duty.”
The Al- Az
har University dismissed the fatwas issued in Pakistan against the Polio vaccina
tion of children and termed it a viola
tion of the rights of the children and their families.
The fatwa said
that prohibiting any vaccine that is beneficial fo
r children, is against the Sharia.
Violence, fear and misinforma
tion offer challenges to authorities trying to reach every child who needs the polio vaccine in Pakistan, which has reported 19 cases this year.
The university’s statement came after Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel met Grand Imam of Al-Az
har University Prof Ahmed At-Tayyeb in Cairo, where he briefed his host on the flood crisis in Pakistan.
Grand Imam of Al Az
har University, Prof. Ahmad At-Tayyeb received Mr. Abdul Qadir Patel, Pakistan's Federal Minister for National Health Services at Cairo for a briefing on the latest developments in the flood crisis in Pakistan.@WHO @gatesfoundation @AlAzhar @PakinEgypt pic.twitter.com/4zUjEduLsb
— Ministry of National Health Services, Pakistan (@nhsrcofficial) October 12, 2022
The Al- Azhar also urged the people, relief organizations, and countries to reach out to the flood-affected people of Pakistan, whose livelihood, homes and infrastructure have been devastated by the recent floods.
During a five-day immunization campaign started on August 22 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, over 210,000 children under the age of five had given anti-polio drops in the district.
The head of the district health department Dr Fazl Maula said that 869 teams including fixed, mobile and transit had been constituted to administer polio drops to the target population by visiting houses, bus terminals and at fixed points.
On the occasion, Deputy Commissioner directed all administrative officers, Teshildars and officials of the health department to concentra
te on the refusal cases and convince such parents to get thei
r children vaccinated against the crippling disease.
He said that foolproof security would be provided to polio teams to avoid any untoward incident
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