Target zero in anti-polio efforts

In Pakistan, polio cases have decreased by over 99pc since 1988, from an estimated 350,000 cases then, to 54 in 2015, and 19 reported in 2016. The momentum has further been maintained in 2017 where the current case count of two is a visible improvement over the previous year. The decline in cases, positive environmental samples as well as the shrinking genetic diversity are all encouraging signs but to chase the elusive zero figure and make Pakistan polio-free requires one final push. To that end we must direct all our energies. We should now focus all our strategies there.

Experts in the field of polio eradication too have corroborated these figures and say that the time for the final assault is upon us. This will be done by launching targeted campaigns in vulnerable areas. The proposed programme will target a total of 10.44 million children under the age of five (0.829 million in Punjab, 4 million in Sindh, 2.93 million in K-P, 1.368 million in Balochistan, 0.342 million in Fata, 0.453 million in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 0.132 million in G-B and 0.31 million children in Islamabad). This is no small undertaking. Some 75,000 personnel will work on the campaign to achieve the set targets across the country including 8,026 area in charge officials, 2,396 UC medical officers, 55,465 mobile, 3,168 fixed and 3,954 transit team members.

Such a comprehensive exercise has to be backed by national awareness and understanding of the plan. It is time for a national campaign to create awareness about how close we are in making Pakistan polio-free. Our success in the field needs to be highlighted and the hard work done by different departments as well as individuals also has to be recognised.

We are told that the “one team” approach adopted by different stakeholders fighting polio has been the reason for recent gains and success. This should be highlighted as well. While we move towards our goal, a longer-term strategy should be made to ensure that polio does not ever stage a comeback. For this, strict implementation and monitoring has to be done on a priority basis. We cannot afford to suffer setbacks at a time when so much has been achieved.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2017.

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