Govt urged to remove bureaucratic bottlenecks

Programme manager says they are in the process of developing SOPs to engage activists, private sector

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD: With eight polio cases reported from across the country so far this year, the federal health ministry on Tuesday decided to further strengthen the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI).

This was decided in a high-powered meeting chaired by Federal Health Aamer Mehmood Kiani on Tuesday.

During the meeting, Kiani stressed the need for strengthening EPI as the most cost-effective, preventive, healthcare measure. He also shared the government’s plans of increasing budget for the health sector to fill the financial gaps and expedite the flow of fund flow to provinces for the smooth conduct of EPI programme activities in the country.

EPI National Programme Manager Dr Saqlain Gilani appreciated the joint team efforts for conducting a successful anti-measles vaccination campaign in the country. He further highlighted that the federal EPI was in the process of developing a standard operating procedure (SOPs) to engage activist organisations and the private sector as long-term partners of the EPI.

The joint supervision, appraisal and evaluation mission of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) debriefed Kiani on their week-long review of the federal and provincial EPI programmes.

They appreciated Pakistan’s overall performance in achieving the milestone of successful measles supplementary immunisation activities (SIAs) throughout the country.

Members appreciated the increase in immunisation coverage, as reflected by the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) for 2017/18. However, they stressed on addressing bureaucratic bottlenecks to expedite funds flow for smooth operations.



Members also highlighted the need to improve the synergy between the EPI and the polio immunisation programme so as to sustain the momentum gained during the measles campaign.

Dengue drive continues

Even as the incidence of dengue subsides owing to the cold wave, the Rawalpindi district administration has directed to continue an ongoing anti-dengue campaign in the district.



This was directed in a meeting of the district emergency response chaired by Headquarters Additional Deputy Commissioner Samia Younis on Tuesday.

During the meeting, Younis directed that in the areas where dengue patients had been confirmed should be subject to greater field visits and conduct additional fogging campaigns there while supervisors should ensure effective monitoring of field teams.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2018.