Be prepared: DCOs told to intensify efforts against polio

A separate anti-polio campaign to be launched in ‘high-risk’ union councils.

LAHORE:

Chief Secretary Naveed Akram Cheema on Saturday directed the district coordination officers (DCOs) to make appropriate arrangements to fight polio during the low transmission season from November to April.

The chief secretary was chairing a meeting of DCOs at the Civil Secretariat’s Darbar Hall.

Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Ayesha Farooq, Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Khwaja Salman Rafique, Senior Member Board of Revenue Nadeem Ashraf, Planning and Development Board Chairman Irfan Ehali, Health Secretary Jawad Rafique Malik, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority director general and representatives of the World Health Organisation, the UNICEF and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation attended the meeting.

Cheema stressed the need for intensifying efforts to eradicate the virus.

Earlier, the health secretary briefed the meeting about the polio and dengue fever situation in the province. He highlighted the action plan for eradicating the viruses in the upcoming months. He said of the 220 poliovirus cases in Pakistan, only three had been reported in the province.



The secretary said a separate anti-polio campaign would be launched in ‘high-risk’ union councils from October 28. The drive will continue until April, he said.

The chief secretary ordered that vaccination teams be deployed on entrances and exits of cities to ensure that every child was vaccinated against polio. He asked the DCOs to chair meetings reviewing arrangements to fight the crippling disease.

Cheema said he was satisfied with the steps taken to prevent the outbreak of dengue fever in Lahore and Sheikhupura.

He directed the Rawalpindi DCO to make the anti-dengue campaign more effective in the city. He asked him to spare no efforts in taking care of dengue fever patients at city hospitals.

The health secretary apprised the meeting of coordination going on between the Health Department and the federal government to prevent outbreak of Ebola virus.

Farooq said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had convened a meeting to discuss the recent cases of polio. “He has formed a cabinet committee to monitor the polio situation,” she said.

“A task force has also been set up for the purpose.”

Farooq said polio workers across the country, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the FATA, were being protected by law-enforcement agencies.

She said the army’s help had also been sought for the purpose.

“Fighting polio during the low transmission season is very crucial,” he said.

Rafique said the Health Department and the DCOs had worked in collaboration with international partners to eliminate polio in the Punjab.

The Board of Revenue senior member, the P&D Board chairman and the PDMA director general apprised the chief secretary about steps taken for the rehabilitation of flood victims and payment of compensation to them.

Cheema said DCOs of 16 flood-affected districts had distributed financial assistance of Rs25,000 each among the victim families in a transparent manner.

He said the second phase of distribution of compensation would be started after Muharram.

The chief secretary was also briefed about the status of the land computerisation project.

Cheema said compensation would be made on the same day at relief centres.

He directed the DCOs to arrange transport to bring flood victims to relief centers.

He said payment in the form of cash, cheques or bank drafts. Home Secretary Azam Suleman briefed the meeting about steps taken to ensure peace during Muharram.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26^th, 2014.