Interprovincial travelling a concern for polio eradication initiative

Environmental samples test positive for the poliovirus

PESHAWAR: As officials successfully immunise 95 per cent of target children in anti-polio campaigns across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, environmental samples repeatedly testing positive for carrying polio virus in Peshawar has raised a red flag.

In a meeting between UNICEF and K-P emergency operation centre, officials highlight that virus could not be eradicated despite Peshawar’s efforts to curtail polio outbreak. Claiming that almost 95 per cent of the children were immunised, an official said the containing the situation was difficult with thousands entering and exiting the provincial capital daily.

Talks are being held with Afghan officials reinforcing joint efforts for the eradication of polio in the region, with suggestions of initiating synchronized campaigns to ensure children received vaccination on the same day. Options including polio campaigns at bus and train stations to target travelling children are also being considered.

“Focusing on inter-provincial transportation points such as bus stops, railway stations can help eliminate this crippling virus,” a senior health department officials said during the meeting.

UNICEF officials, however, were of the view that a similar virus is being found in environmental samples within the provincial capital so there is little reason to believe, migration is causing it to spread. “When a similar virus can be traced through genetic sequencing in the same environmental sample, there is no reason to believe the virus comes from somewhere else,” a UNICEF official reportedly said at the meeting.

Reiterating that Peshawar’s coverage was robust, the K-P health department official was adamant that the virus may have been transmitted from Afghnistan or even Karachi. He said nearly 5600 children who arrived in the provincial capital from elsewhere were given anti-polio drops in one day. “This clearly suggests the moving population needs to be focused on,” he added.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of inactivated anti-polio campaign in Peshawar, K-P Secretary Health Abid Majeed said the campaign will boost immunity of children against the virus. According to Majeed, at least 0.228 million children were identified for inactive vaccine between the age of four to 23 months, another 0.263 million for oral vaccine. He said at least 171 teams of skilled persons have been constituted for the implementation of the programme. Dwelling further, Majeed said the campaign will be fixed at a spot identified by social moralisers instead of a door-to-door campaign.

Coordinator for K-P Emergency Operation Center  Atif Rehman said while the initial campaign was designed for Peshawar, similar programmes will be launched in Lower and Upper Dir after Ramazan.  “We are ensuring every child is vaccinated so they do not endure the crippling virus due to our negligence”