Donors reiterate support for Pakistan’s programme to eradicate polio

Note progress made in the fight against polio virus

ISLAMABAD: International donors have reiterated their vow to stand with Pakistan to eradicate the crippling polio virus from the country.

The pledge was made during a regular quarterly briefing to the donors’ community scheduled at the National Emergency Operations Centre in Islamabad.

“The ‘One Team approach’ led by the government and supported by partners is helping Pakistan to make polio a part of history,” said Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq, Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication while addressing the representatives of donors.



“After recording the lowest ever, 20 polio cases, in 2016, the programme has successfully maintained its momentum in 2017 where the current case count of two compares to 11 reported by this date in 2017,” she said, adding that Pakistan was committed while health workers were determined to achieve the target of zero cases by the end of 2017.

“Behind all these successful efforts is the commitment of the government which transcends any political consideration,” Farooq added.

Further, she said that the government had declared polio eradication as one of the key priorities in the health sector which was closely tied to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the ‘National Health Vision 2025’.

At the provincial level, task forces led by the chief ministers and chief secretaries with the support of the respective emergency operations centres were helping sustain efforts.  “All political parties at the federal level and in all the provinces stay committed and are working together to ensure continuity and sustainability in the days ahead,” she stated.

Dr Rana Muhammad Safdar, the national coordinator for polio eradication shared details of their programme during the low transmission season which just ended with a nationwide immunisation campaign in May.



Dr Safdar pointed out that the programme was able to anticipate virus risk and quickly plug the immunity gaps during the implementation of National Emergency Action Plan 2016-17 which helped reduce infections.

He added that a recent survey of high-risk districts had shown high immunity levels against polio and with an added focus on high-risk mobile populations and improving the routine immunisation campaign, the goal could be achieved.

Representatives of WHO, Unicef, Rotary International, Jica, USAID, Islamic Development Bank, Bill Melinda Gates Foundation, CDC, Public Health England as well as the governments of Japan and Canada were present at the meeting.

WHO acting Representative Dr Assai Ardakani remarked that Pakistan’s polio programme has set good examples for effective and evidence-based management coupled with accountability which could be applied to improving the overall health structures and systems in Pakistan and in other countries facing similar challenges.

“We take pride in it and will continue to support the programme at all levels,” said Unicef Country Representative Angela Kearney.  Rotary International National Chair Aziz Memon said that Rotary is “proud to be part of this national cause”.

Islamic Development Bank representative Inamullah Khan noted that the turnaround by the country had presented many lessons which can be applied in the larger Islamic world to tackle other health and social issues in the Ummah.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 2^nd, 2017.