Ties with US ‘not to affect’ anti-polio drive

Anti-polio programme chief sure ‘we can finish the job this time’

ISLAMABAD: Strained Pakistan-US ties will not affect the country’s determination to eliminate polio, said Dr Rana Muhammad Safdar, the head of the country’s anti-polio programme.

Pakistan can tackle all challenges to block its polio eradication efforts, insisted the Emergency Coordinator for Polio Eradication Programme Pakistan while outlining preparations for achieving zero-polio status.

Dr Safdar disregarded reports suggesting that a deepening mistrust between Pakistan and the US could hurt the country’s polio eradication efforts.

He also cited an incident in 2011, when Pakistan’s anti-polio programme was dealt a major blow after Dr Shakil Afridi, a government surgeon, helped CIA uncover Osama bin Laden’s whereabouts by running a fake vaccination programme in Abbotabad.



Soon after that incident, several communities, especially in the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), flared up against the US, remaining wary against polio vaccinations, considering it a US conspiracy against all Muslims.

Dr Safdar said: “As far as polio programme is concerned, I am sure we can finish the job. This time, we won’t let our efforts go in vain.”

According to him, there was a great shift in parents’ behaviour towards polio vaccinations.

He said: “The impact of negative propaganda against anti-polio drives will be minimal now. Our efforts for earning the title of a polio-free country will bear fruit,” he said, adding that Pakistan now had better informed parents, truly concerned about their children’s health.

“Polio vaccine is now readily accepted. There has been a significant drop in cases of refusals… it is now less than 0.1%,” he said.



The polio programme head said that Pakistan had an unprecedented security coordination mechanism, ensuring safety to frontline health workers, allowing them to reach all children.

EOC efforts are reflected by the significant drop in the number of polio cases, dropping from 306 in 2014 to 54 in 2015 and 20 in 2016. This year, only five polio cases have been reported so far against 16 during the same period last year.

Referring to various financial aspects, Dr Safdar said that vaccine was procured with Pakistan’s own contributions, adding that the government also met the entire cost of infrastructure and apparatus used to reach children across the country.

Pakistan’s partners, providing support in operations and communications, included WHO, UNICEF, Gates Foundation, Rotary International and governments of Japan, the UAE and Canada.

“However, the major contribution of western countries actually goes in supporting GAVI, a new vaccine initiative across the world,” he said.

According to latest post-campaign results, 92% of assessed LQAS lots had parsed, making it the best-ever campaign in Pakistan.

“The anti-polio programme is owned by the nation itself across political divide. Partners’ contribution and support is invaluable, but is not affected by politics,” he said.