Pakistan in need of global support to complete job of polio eradication
Islamabad: Pakistan will require additional support from global partners like Uncief to implement the recently finalised National Emergency Action Plan (NEAP) 2017-18, which mirrors the country resolve to maintain its aggressiveness to complete the job of polio eradication.
Pakistan’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq made these remarks while bidding farewell to the outgoing country representative of Unicef in Pakistan Angela Kearney here at the National Emergency Operation Centre on Wednesday.
“Unicef support has been imperative throughout the observed turn around in polio eradication in the country and our partnership will continue even after we get rid of this deadly disease from Pakistan and the globe,” Ayesha stated while highlighting Unicef’s role in helping Pakistan reach close to the finish line. “Angela and her entire team will be remembered for their valuable contributions towards the progress of the polio programme,” she said.
Pakistan continues to make strides towards the goal of wild poliovirus interruption. As of today, the country has reported 3 WPV1 cases in 2017 compared to 14 in the same time period during 2016, signifying an almost 80% decline. The situation in core reservoirs continues to improve, with only one case reported from Killa Abdullah, Quetta Block, with onset of June 11, 2017. The remaining two cases occurred in remote areas outside the traditional active transmission zones.
Ayesha informed Angela that the main focus of the programme is on Quetta Block due to extensive population movements across the border with Afghanistan. “In 2017, we have witnessed one case in Killa Abdullah and 2 cases each in Helmand and Kandhar indicating intensity of virus transmission on either side of the border,” she stated.
Reciprocating her feelings, Angela Kearney said, “With full presence of community-based vaccinators and successful implementation of different strategies to consistently reach all children, stopping transmission looks well within reach.”
The National Coordinator for Emergency Operation Centre Dr. Rana Safdar said Rawalpindi-Islamabad is another hotspot where intense efforts are underway to cleanse the environment of the virus. Routine immunisation continues to be of critical importance as we all three cases in 2017 have been zero routine immunisation.
Article source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/220892-Pakistan-in-need-of-global-support-to-complete-job-of-polio-eradication