Dr Zafar Mirza - Special Assistant to the PM on Health. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza stressed mainstreaming the universal immunisation agenda by engaging national and provincial leaders and policymakers.
Chairing a high powered meeting of the National Inter-Agency Coordination Committee at Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Mirza said advocacy supported by evidence and data was needed to win political support and ownership at the national and provincial level.
"Universal Immunisation is the only option. Let us set our clear vision. We need to get out of our comfort zone to ensure no child is left behind," said Mirza according to a press release.
On the occasion, the EPI National Programme Manager presented the targets set by provinces and areas for achieving Universal Immunisation. He also shared the determination of the programme in achieving the set targets.
The meeting was organised in the backdrop of the visit of the Joint Supervision, Evaluation and Monitoring (JSAEM) mission to Pakistan (Gavi, World Bank, BMGF, USAID, UNICEF-ROSA and KfW) which was in the country for the past two weeks holding extensive deliberations with the provincial EPI programmes and their respective planning and finance departments.
The meeting highlighted the need for achieving universal immunisation coverage across the country as a priority.
Gavi Senior Country Manager briefed the Minister on behalf of the Alliance partners and Mission members regarding the progress made so far in the immunisation programme.
While debriefing the SAPM he underscored the need of expansion of fixed sites, improving micro-planning and quality of outreach services and highlighting the need to generate demand for immunisation services.
The mission apprised the minister NHSR&C on their findings of the visit and shared key recommendations towards reaching the unvaccinated children in Pakistan.
The mission members also stressed the Federal and Provincial programmes to ensuring sustainable financing through the National and provincial recurrent budgets for procurement of the vaccines and delivery of un-interrupted immunisation services across the country.
The meeting was attended by Dr Nausheen Hamid, Parliamentary Secretary NHSR&C, Federal and Provincial Managers-EPI and WHO and UNICEF representatives.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 8th, 2019.
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