Issues aplenty: WHO representative unhappy with progress of anti-polio drive

Says union polio eradication committees are not meeting their potential

SUKKUR: Prior to an anti-polio drive scheduled to begin on October 24, a meeting of health officials was held on Saturday at the Shikarpur deputy commissioner's office where a World Health Organization (WHO) representative expressed his dissatisfaction over the progress of union polio eradication committees.

According a press release issued by the Shikarpur information department, participants of the meeting discussed the overall progress of the district polio eradication committee and WHO representative Yahya Musa expressed his dismay on the performance of the union polio eradication committees. He complained that some of the union council medical officers were not attending the meetings and those in attendance were not showing due interest.

The Khanpur taluka polio supervisor informed the meeting's participants that some of the union councils in his jurisdiction such as Garhi Tegho, Pir Bux Shujra and Shabirabad are sensitive in terms of law and order. He said when the polio teams visit these union councils, most of the time they are robbed but the police do nothing to prevent this.

Shikarpur deputy commissioner Sikandar Ali Khushk urged the union council incharges and medical officers to fulfil their responsibility and submit the minutes of the meeting to the control room. As far as the law and order situation in some union councils is concerned, Khushk said he will speak to the Shikarpur SSP regarding action against police officials who are not cooperating with the polio teams.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 17^th, 2016.