Health Department takes on polio

Attention to kids coming to Punjab from other provinces recommended.

LAHORE:

Health Secretary Jehanzeb Khan has said that much like dengue, collective efforts will have to be made by the government and people for the eradication of polio. He said the Punjab government was determined to eliminate polio and besides conducting surveillance and setting up a monitoring system at the district level, an accountability process had also been launched.

The secretary was speaking during a meeting where a Review Mission report regarding government measures for the eradication of polio was being presented. The event was organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday.

Health Services Director General Dr Muhammad Aslam Chaudhry, District Officers (Health) from all districts, representatives of WHO, UNICEF, Rotary Club International, JICA, International Partners and Donor Departments and officers of the Health Department were present.

The secretary thanked the Review Mission for appreciating the efforts of the Punjab government and the Health Department for eradicating polio. He said the weaknesses pointed out in the review report would be looked at and dealt with.

Earlier, WHO Review Mission chairman Dr Naveed Sadddozai, WHO Cairo Regional Manager Dr Tahir Mir, WHO Provincial Manager Dr Deborah Bettels and UNICEF representative Dr Rana Mushtaq addressed the meeting. They said it augurs well that only two cases of polio had surfaced in 2011 compared to seven in 2010. However, they said efforts should be continued for the complete elimination of the polio virus in Punjab. The experts stressed the need for paying special attention to the vaccination of children coming to Punjab from other provinces where the incidence of polio is higher than Punjab.

They recommended devising a surveillance system and enforcing effective measures in other provinces for the eradication of polio on the pattern of Punjab.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th, 2011.