IHR emergency committee to give its recommendations in five days.
ISLAMABAD:
The International Health Regulatory (IHR) Emergency Committee will give its final recommendations to the World Health Organisation in the next five days regarding the imposition of travel restrictions on Pakistan for its failure to curb the spread of the poliovirus.
Pakistan’s fate hangs in the balance, as it broke its own 10-year record after 58 new polio cases surfaced in the first four month of this year, making it tougher for the country to clear its position before the international community.
Talking to The Express Tribune, a senior official at the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination (NHSRC), requesting anonymity, said Pakistan has not yet worked on a strategy to deal with the restrictions, if imposed. There would be a strict visa policy for people who will be travelling from Pakistan or coming in, he explained. It will become difficult for frequent business travellers to get vaccinated during every visit, said the official.
Moreover, the labour force that goes to Middle East every year will also face huge difficulties, he added.
Prime Minister’s focal Person on Polio Aysha Raza Farooq said that during the last two days Pakistan has made all-out effort to make its position clear to the international community. “We have clearly told them that 90 % of Pakistan is polio-free, however, the issue is only in FATA and in Karachi due to the security situation.”
Since 2012, the country has lost 59 people working for the cause of polio eradication. Therefore, if travel restrictions are imposed, then all of their scarifies will go in vain, she explained.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 1st, 2014.
COMMENTS (24)
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Pakistan is probably the only country in history where more people have died trying to administer the polio vaccine than from actually contracting the disease...
Leave alone foreign travel. Isn't is more important to protect the lives of the citizen of Pakistan themselves? Why isn't the Pak Establishment worried about more and more spreading of this horrible but easily preventable disease?
Congratulations to Kuwait for being the wisest of them all. They banned Pakistanis back in 1990. At that time for reasons that we are so corrupt that Terrorists and Afghans can pay and get a Pakistani Passport easily. Now another reason. Well done!!!
Please respect your peoples welfare. Polio maims a person in a very hard way. I would pray to waheguru, bhagwan or Allah so the children would be safe. Please respect the children who needs it. Awaam Di sooch rakhoji. Rab rakha
It should be made mandatory to pray in a mosque, one should have had polio drops proof...Iman on the mosque should enforce this....
If one wants admission in madarsa or schools, driver license, CNIC, passport, any government work done, they should have proof of drops
Government will only get serious when the Jahan Panah shehenshah Nawaz Sharif or his wazir brother Shahbaz Sharif will be denied travel due to ban on Pakistanis. I would love to see that happen!
Who cares about Polio? Just keep on making these metros that we desperately need, NS.
What is the Polio Virus in front of a nuclear power? +++++++++++++++++++++ I say nuke the damn virus out.
Congratulations Pakistanis! Continue to live in denial and continue moving backwards towards the stone ages. The day is not very far.
@Polpot: Hahaha... couldn't agree more
travel ban should be imposed immediately that is the only way out to safe the rest of the world from the virus carrying pakistanis.
@Aalu Laylo:
Aiwaaa :) that's the spirit
Travel ban should be imposed on those at the helm of affairs, not on ordinary people.
I think people from KP deserve such a ban since they are the ones who opposes to polio vaccine mostly. Even in Karachi it is spreading because of their migration. Other provinces should impose a control check on their migration since they just are not posing threat to the other cities of the country but to the world as well. I am also interested in knowing the average IQ level of people of all the provinces through a survey, in particular KP. WHO step might be a little harsh but they are right in slapping a ban to us. We are taking this world for granted first terrorism in the name of religion and now polio terrorism despite of millions of dollars taken from WHO to eradicate the disease over the years without any success.
"Spread of poliovirus: Pakistan not ready for travel ban, say officials." Very good! WHO is right in its decision. Welcome to the world of reality. Salams
"Since 2012, the country has lost 59 people working for the cause of polio eradication. Therefore, if travel restrictions are imposed, then all of their scarifies will go in vain, she explained."
oops.....even people's sacrifices are up for bargaining :(
This can be very disappointing for students and labor force I just hope all the political parties get together and fight this disease before it gets too late .... ban like this can be justified since polio is an epidemic and world has spend billions to get rid of it
Wake up Nawaz. Try to be a visionary leader like Imran Khan and follow the Sehat ka Insaf program.
"....said that during the last two days Pakistan has made all-out effort to make its position clear to the international community".
That statement from the PM's "Focal Person" say it all - what about the months preceeding the last 2 days and why is there a Focal Person and not a ministry looking after the whole issue of polio and dealing with WHO.
"Spread of poliovirus: Pakistan not ready for travel ban, say officials" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Not ready for travel ban but ready for spreading Polio. How typical!
"Spread of poliovirus: Pakistan not ready for travel ban, say officials" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Pakistans readiness is not relevant the decison belongs to WHO.