Mayor of Islamabad and Chairman CDA Sheikh Ansar Aziz has directed that dedicated human resource for the upcoming polio campaigns be provided on urgent basis.
The direction was given in a high profile meeting to analyse polio campaign status in Federal capital. The meeting was chaired jointly by Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq, Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio and Sheikh Ansar Aziz Mayor Islamabad. The meeting deliberated the challenges faced during the preparedness and conduct of polio campaigns in Islamabad and suggested solutions.
Sheikh Ansar Aziz directed the Human Resource directorate, CDA to ensure that in all future campaigns for Polio eradication, plans for deployment of dedicated staff in the city should be shared with him. He said that any non-compliance will be dealt with strictly. Special mention of Private Educational Institutes Regulatory Authority (PEIRA) was made by Islamabad Mayor to assist the government in convincing the refusal schools during campaigns. Sheikh Ansar Aziz also ensured stern accountability for negligence of duties and lethargic attitude to improve the current state of affairs in the polio program.
In her opening remarks Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq highlighted the sensitivity and vulnerability of the city due to multiple factors including continuous mobile population, connection with Rawalpindi and recent sub optimal polio campaigns in the capital. “It is high time to invoke a sense of urgency among officials of the capital to improve their performance”, stressed Senator Ayesha. She further underscored the importance of vaccinator’s training and better interpersonal communication skills of the vaccinators to improve the interface with the caregivers.
“Realistic workload on vaccinators and improved microplanning is a key to reduce missed children during polio campaigns”, added Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio.
Terming Area in-charges and coordinators as a backbone of the program, Dr. Rana Muhammad Safdar, National Coordinator, National Emergency Operations Centre also stressed on the proper training and selection of area in-charges and team members for optimal results. Dr. Rana Safdar emphasized on reduction of high turnover rate of polio workers. Dr. Rana Muhammad Safdar further apprised the meeting that as per the indicators of National Emergency Action Plan it is mandatory to achieve 95% coverage in each polio campaign to meet the target. “Given the target in the National Emergency Action Plan, Islamabad polio team needs extra effort to reach the optimum performance level”, Dr. Safdar further highlighted.
Deputy Commissioner Islamabad also shared his concerns over lack of staff for polio campaigns and absence of proper monitoring system. Presentations on the polio situation were given by officials of CDA and ICT to share the issues and challenges faced.
The meeting was also attended by IG |Police and officials from Deputy Commissioner’s office, District Health Officer Islamabad, representatives of CDA Health Directorate and development partners.
PREVIOUS NEXT
