The mass cycling event to mark World Polio Day was held at the Palace Moat in Mandalay yesterday.

The event cycling around the moat one time was participated by Union Minister for Health and Sports Dr Myint Htwe, Mandalay Region Chief Minister Dr Zaw Myint Maung, cabinet members and Hluttaw representatives, Ministry of Health and Sports’ heads and officials, representatives from WHO, Gavi, Unicef and Rotary Club, and the public.

Speaking at the event, Union Minister for Health and Sports Dr Myint Htwe said extra vaccinations were given in August and October to protect children against polio.

He then urged parents, relatives and neighbors of children to go and get the children vaccinated at the places where vaccinations are given as they are the future of the nation.

He also added to share the advantages of vaccination and to get children vaccinated.

World Health Organization-WHO has announced Myanmar as polio free country on 27 March 2014, however, the polio disease was found again in the country as it failed to give vaccination to the children, particularly, the children in the remote areas, the Union Minister said.

People who suffer from polio get declining their living standard and become a burden for their family, and it is also a loss of valuable human resources for the country.

The Union Minister then expressed thanks employees and supported organizations for trying together for developing people’s health standard and eradicating children’s diseases, urging the public to get children vaccinated.

Afterwards, Mandalay Region Chief Minister Dr Zaw Myint Maung said the cycling event that marks 2019 World Polio Day aimed at increasing awareness of polio eradication among the public in Mandalay Region, as well as across the country and the world. The Union Minister, the Mandalay Region Chief Minister and officials opened the event by cutting ceremonial ribbons.

The cycling ride then began with Mandalay Mayor Dr Ye Lwin firing a starting gun. A total of nearly 800 cyclists participated in the event.

MNA (Translated by Kyaw Zin Tun)