Dr Bosan sent back to NIH, donors fear decision may result in setbacks. ILLUSTRATION: TRIBUNE CREATIVE
Pakistan’s anti-polio campaign received a fresh blow when Caretaker Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso dismissed the national coordinator for the Prime Minister’s Polio Cell Dr Altaf Bosan.
According to a notification issued by the Prime Minister Secretariat a copy of which was made available to The Express Tribune, Bosan has been repatriated to the National Health Institute (NIH), his parent department, with immediate effect. Bosan had been working in the polio cell since its establishment in 2011.
Reacting to the news, acting representative of World Health Organisation (WHO) Dr Nima Saeed Abid said, “Dr Boson has been removed during a time when the Pakistan polio eradication programme is passing through a transitional period. However, his appointment is a government decision. We were satisfied by his overall performance.”
According to sources, international donors raised concerns over the sudden removal of Dr Boson and expressed fear that it may hamper the continuity of the national polio eradication programme. These fears, expressed during internal discussions, reflected the fact that the polio eradication campaign is at a ‘make or break stage’ and any delay could hamper the overall efforts made under the programme thus far.
An official working closely with the polio cell, on condition of anonymity, said that it was not the caretaker government’s mandate to transfer officials as their primary role was to conduct free and fair elections.
The official added that no one has been appointed in place of Bosan, due to which the cell is unable to continue performing its routine operations. The polio cell was established with the financial assistance of international donors. Every year the cell undertakes polio eradication activities across the country. The prime objective of this cell is to liaise with international donors and monitor the polio campaign.
According to the official, the removal of the head of the cell will dent efforts in the fight against polio, which is one of the major challenges currently facing the country.
“At present all the eyes are set on Pakistan as it remains one of only three countries in the world where polio still exists, therefore such decisions by the government give a negative impression to the world and show a lack of seriousness in fulfilling our international obligations to eradicate polio,” said the official.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 21st, 2013.
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