Virus in environment: Govt urged to provide essential immunisation services, improve sanitation

K-P chief secretary directs provincial oversight bodies to hold regular meetings

PESHAWAR: As the government gears up for a nationwide anti-measles vaccination campaign, an advisory group has emphasised the need for providing essential immunisation services and for improving the sanitary conditions in Peshawar.

This was suggested by the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) as it visited the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Emergency Operation Center (EOC) on Tuesday.

TAG Chairman Jean Marc appreciated the Peshawar Emergency Action Plan, terming it the right approach to identify issues at the grassroot level which were creating hurdles in purging the environment of the poliovirus and reaching the goal of a polio-free region.

EOC Coordinator Abid Khan Wazir briefed Marc on the updated status of the programme while Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Imran Sheikh briefed him on the Peshawar Emergency Action Plan.

The TAG chair also visited Shaheen Muslim Town, one of the high-risk union councils (UC) of Peshawar where he met with the teams and other field staff.

The TAG chief emphasized the need for providing better immunisation and sanitation services, especially in the drains of Peshawar to improve immunity and hygiene status of the public.

Meanwhile, K-P Chief Secretary Naveed Baloch has stated that various provincial oversight bodies, established for polio eradication, should hold regular meetings to ensure the programme was on the right track.

The chief secretary further stated that regular meetings would help keep the programme on track apart from achieving the goal of stopping the circulation of the wild poliovirus in the environment by the year’s end.

Baloch added that he will chair meeting of the provincial task force next week wherein the programme’s progress will be reviewed with a focus on the issue of the virus’ persistent circulation in the environment.

Marc thanked chief secretary for his commitment to the programme and hoped that the crippling disease will soon be wiped out of the region.

K-P Director General Health Services Dr Ayub Rose, Director EPI Dr Akram Shah, National Team Leader UNICEF John Agbor, Team Leader WHO Dr Abdi Nasir, Technical Focal Person BMGF Dr Imtiaz Ali Shah, Provincial Team lead N Stop, Dr Ijaz Ali Shah and relevant staff of district administration and partner staff were present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2018.