Peshawar included in concentrated drive
Countrywide campaign to target specific areas in July and August
Countrywide campaign to target specific areas in July and August. PHOTO: AFP
PESHAWAR:
As samples obtained from 39 sites across the country tested negative for poliovirus, authorities dealing with eradication of the crippling disease are preparing to launch small-scale and targeted campaigns.
According to officials, the decision was taken in 2015 when it was decided that areas considered reservoirs of poliovirus, including Peshawar, Khyber Agency, Quetta and Karachi, will be targeted in polio campaigns.
They said drives were planned across the country, but will not be carried out everywhere. Instead, specific locations will be targeted in July and August, adding most of the province requested officials to expand the programme to other districts as well.
All over the country
“All provinces have been requested not just to target capital cities, but other districts as well,” an official said, requesting anonymity. The official, who has been dealing with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa alone, said officials were asked to include high-risk districts in the campaign.
He said it was requested to add Bannu and Lakki Marwat to the campaign as these were high-risk districts. He pointed out at least three cases were reported from Bannu district. The official added besides Peshawar, Nowshera is likely to be added to the special campaign.
The official also said one campaign will be held on a small scale, but every single child is to be administered polio drops.
On May 27, officials said all samples, around 39 in number, proved poliovirus free and the reservoirs did not transmit the disease any longer. At the same time, the ground force (polio workers) was credited for the achievement. On the other hand, UNICEF officials said the results tested negative by using conventional methods, but not advanced technology. However, the latter is at their disposal and can be used when necessary.
Experts stressed that even though the samples tested negative for poliovirus, Pakistan needed to ensure that not even a single case surfaced in the country for the coming the years. This would be the only way to ensure that travel restrictions are lifted.
In the province
At least 11 poliovirus cases were confirmed in 2016 with six from K-P, four from Sindh and one from Balochistan.
Officials said the last case in K-P was reported in May and no cases have surfaced since. Comforting is the fact that not a single case has been reported in 2016 from the tribal areas, which were long considered a hub for the disease.
“This is something really big for us because the tribal areas do not have a single incident,” the official said. He added authorities were focusing on areas bordering Afghanistan.
“Recently, three cases were traced back to the neighbouring country,” he claimed. “That is the reason officials are focusing on refugees camps and have started setting up camps at posts which see people travel across the border.” the official said.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 9th, 2016.
As samples obtained from 39 sites across the country tested negative for poliovirus, authorities dealing with eradication of the crippling disease are preparing to launch small-scale and targeted campaigns.
According to officials, the decision was taken in 2015 when it was decided that areas considered reservoirs of poliovirus, including Peshawar, Khyber Agency, Quetta and Karachi, will be targeted in polio campaigns.
They said drives were planned across the country, but will not be carried out everywhere. Instead, specific locations will be targeted in July and August, adding most of the province requested officials to expand the programme to other districts as well.
All over the country
“All provinces have been requested not just to target capital cities, but other districts as well,” an official said, requesting anonymity. The official, who has been dealing with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa alone, said officials were asked to include high-risk districts in the campaign.
He said it was requested to add Bannu and Lakki Marwat to the campaign as these were high-risk districts. He pointed out at least three cases were reported from Bannu district. The official added besides Peshawar, Nowshera is likely to be added to the special campaign.
Another victim: Polio case surfaces in Bannu
The official also said one campaign will be held on a small scale, but every single child is to be administered polio drops.
On May 27, officials said all samples, around 39 in number, proved poliovirus free and the reservoirs did not transmit the disease any longer. At the same time, the ground force (polio workers) was credited for the achievement. On the other hand, UNICEF officials said the results tested negative by using conventional methods, but not advanced technology. However, the latter is at their disposal and can be used when necessary.
Experts stressed that even though the samples tested negative for poliovirus, Pakistan needed to ensure that not even a single case surfaced in the country for the coming the years. This would be the only way to ensure that travel restrictions are lifted.
In the province
At least 11 poliovirus cases were confirmed in 2016 with six from K-P, four from Sindh and one from Balochistan.
Officials said the last case in K-P was reported in May and no cases have surfaced since. Comforting is the fact that not a single case has been reported in 2016 from the tribal areas, which were long considered a hub for the disease.
“This is something really big for us because the tribal areas do not have a single incident,” the official said. He added authorities were focusing on areas bordering Afghanistan.
“Recently, three cases were traced back to the neighbouring country,” he claimed. “That is the reason officials are focusing on refugees camps and have started setting up camps at posts which see people travel across the border.” the official said.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 9th, 2016.