The
Prime Minster Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, Senator Ayesha
Raza Farooq, thanks today the continuing support of Rotary International in the
fight against polio. “Our goal is nothing short of achieving eradication and we
are vigilantly and proactively identifying the remaining gaps and addressing
them under the fully functional network of Emergency Operation Centres,” said
Senator Farooq.
At a meeting with the visiting
President of Rotary International, Ian H.S. Riseley and his delegation today at
the National Emergency Operations Centre, Senator Farooq said the dedicated
frontline health workers Sehat Muhafiz and supportive communities have brought
us very close to the finish line in the fight against polio.
Updating Rotary’s delegation on the
situation of polio eradication in Pakistan, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person
noted that in spite of the progress achieved so far in reducing the number of
children paralysed by polio, the virus continues to be detected in the
environment in Karachi, Quetta Block, Peshawar and the twin cities of Islamabad
and Rawalpindi. Therefore, any unvaccinated child remains vulnerable unless we
ensure all children gets polio drops every time Sehat Muhafiz visit their area.
Pakistan’s government leadership is
fully committed to the implementation of the National Emergency Action Plan via
the national and provincial Emergency Operations Centers, with emphasis on
evidence-based decision making, a “one-team” approach, front-line workers at
the center of the polio eradication effort, effective oversight of performance
management and accountability, and a commitment to coordinate with Afghanistan
to reach and vaccinate high-risk groups”, Senator Ayesha added.
President of Rotary International,
Ian H.S. Riseley said “scientifically driven decision making with robust
management and accountability mechanism shows that Pakistan is well on course
to polio eradication and Rotary will extend continued support till the end of
this mission. Together we will be able to make it across the finish line.”
The current polio epidemiology
remains the best we have ever seen in the country. The number of cases has
declined from 306 in 2014 to 53 in 2015, and to 20 in 2016. So far, this year,
the number of polio cases reported in Pakistan are six as compared to 19
reported by 7th December in 2016.
National Polio Chair Polioplus
Committee Pakistan Aziz Memon assured that every possible support will be
extended to programme toward the finish line. “Soon Rotary will be installing
more water filtration plants in high risk areas of Karachi to help improve
sanitation services and enhance the immunity of children against the poliovirus
and waterborne diseases”.
Rotary delegation which included
District Governor Faiza Qamar, PDG Faiz Kidwai, PDG Saaed Shamsi, PDG Dr.
Pervez Ahsan Khan, PAG Masrur J. Scheikh, PAG Tayyaba Gul, PPs Waseem malik and
Saaeda Rehman was given a briefing about polio control room.
