Crippling disease: Balochistan on track to defeat polio: TAG chief

Dr Jean Marc Olive calls for plugging the gaps in the immunisation drives

QUETTA: Technical Advisory Group (TAG) Chairman Dr Jean Marc Olive has said Balochistan is in the right direction to wipe out the poliovirus from the province.

TAG Chairman in a meeting held at Balochistan Polio Emergency Operation Centre on Monday said the province has shown remarkable progress since September 2015.

“We are close to interrupting the virus transmission in Balochistan, which is commendable however there are some gaps which need to be filled, to ensure we reach every child,” he said.

“We need to focus on intense monitoring of vaccination campaign at Afghan refugee camps,” he said.

He appreciated the recruitment of permanent local community health workers in the high risk areas under continuous community protected vaccination programme. Currently there are more than 1,200 such permanent teams working in the high risk areas of Balochistan.

Besides others, Balochistan Health Secretary Umer Baloch, EOC Coordinator Dr Saifur Rehman, Dr Jawahir Habib UNICEF Polio Lead, Dr Rehmatullah EPI, Dr Salah Haithami WHO and other WHO representatives attended the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 26^th,  2016.