‘Need to strengthen immunisation in Balochistan’
PM’s focal person on polio expresses concerns over polio cases in province, demands action
ISLAMABAD:
The government will be aiming to eradicate polio in the Quetta block during the prevalent low transmission season, which ends in May this year.
The assurance came from Balochistan Chief Secretary Saifullah Chattha, who called on the Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq in Islamabad Thursday.
The meeting came after environmental samples from Quetta and a polio case from Killa Abdullah – the 20th of 2016 – came back positive.
The meeting reviewed in detail the polio situation in Balochistan in general and the Quetta block – Quetta, Pishin and Killa Abdullah – in particular. The meeting was also attended by National Emergency Operations Centre Coordinator Dr Rana Muhammad Safdar.
Farooq said that with continued decline in cases, the proportion of positive environmental samples and genetic diversity of the virus circulating, Pakistan was far closer to interruption of polio than ever. She, however, expressed concerns over the persistent positive environmental samples from Quetta and the recent case in Killa Abdullah.
“With the progress in core reservoirs of Karachi and Khyber-Peshawar, the existing gaps in Quetta block need to be immediately filled to achieve the goal [of eradicating polio],” she said.
Chattha briefed her on the actions underway in the province to mitigate risks from polio in the Quetta block along with in the rest of the province.
The meeting also reviewed the epidemiological investigation report of the recent case in which a four-month-old child, who had received only two doses of polio vaccine - due to misconceptions – while missing the routine immunisation drives.
Farooq advised that the immunisation programme uses the case as an example to educate communities about the possible consequences of refusing vaccination.
Reviewing data for campaigns as well as surveillance, it was pointed out that there was an immediate need to strengthen routine immunisation both in Quetta as well as the rest of Balochistan.
“Immediate actions for this purpose would be initiated and monitored by myself,” assured Chattha, adding that he would convene a special meeting of provincial officials to devise a comprehensive preparedness plan.
The national coordinator also shared district-wise details of potentially low-performing union councils in Quetta.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 13th, 2017.
The government will be aiming to eradicate polio in the Quetta block during the prevalent low transmission season, which ends in May this year.
The assurance came from Balochistan Chief Secretary Saifullah Chattha, who called on the Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq in Islamabad Thursday.
The meeting came after environmental samples from Quetta and a polio case from Killa Abdullah – the 20th of 2016 – came back positive.
The meeting reviewed in detail the polio situation in Balochistan in general and the Quetta block – Quetta, Pishin and Killa Abdullah – in particular. The meeting was also attended by National Emergency Operations Centre Coordinator Dr Rana Muhammad Safdar.
Farooq said that with continued decline in cases, the proportion of positive environmental samples and genetic diversity of the virus circulating, Pakistan was far closer to interruption of polio than ever. She, however, expressed concerns over the persistent positive environmental samples from Quetta and the recent case in Killa Abdullah.
“With the progress in core reservoirs of Karachi and Khyber-Peshawar, the existing gaps in Quetta block need to be immediately filled to achieve the goal [of eradicating polio],” she said.
Chattha briefed her on the actions underway in the province to mitigate risks from polio in the Quetta block along with in the rest of the province.
The meeting also reviewed the epidemiological investigation report of the recent case in which a four-month-old child, who had received only two doses of polio vaccine - due to misconceptions – while missing the routine immunisation drives.
Farooq advised that the immunisation programme uses the case as an example to educate communities about the possible consequences of refusing vaccination.
Reviewing data for campaigns as well as surveillance, it was pointed out that there was an immediate need to strengthen routine immunisation both in Quetta as well as the rest of Balochistan.
“Immediate actions for this purpose would be initiated and monitored by myself,” assured Chattha, adding that he would convene a special meeting of provincial officials to devise a comprehensive preparedness plan.
The national coordinator also shared district-wise details of potentially low-performing union councils in Quetta.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 13th, 2017.