Technical advisory group paints bleak picture, offers host of remedial suggestions. PHOTO: FILE
Pakistan needs to prepare for expansion of wild poliovirus (WPV) and outbreaks considering the high risk of national and international spread in the high transmission season.
Pakistan is not in a position to interrupt transmission without radical changes in reservoir areas such as Waziristan and Khyber agencies, Peshawar and Karachi.
The Pakistan Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on polio eradication, during a meeting on Tuesday, warned of the significant risk of high season spread of the crippling disease.
The participants discussed how an outbreak cannot be controlled without widespread administration of complete polio vaccine dosage to children in Waziristan and s rapid scaling up of current initiatives.
Taking to The Express Tribune, an official working closely with the polio eradication programme said that members of the TAG said for Pakistan, hard won gains are threatened by uncontrolled transmission areas and the high transmission season.
TAG expressed concern over Waziristan, where no vaccination has been conducted since July 2012, also noting that more than 60 per cent of worldwide polio cases are in FATA.
They said that cessation of transmission in FATA is essential for success in Pakistan and around the globe, whereas failure to stop transmission there will result in a massive public health failure and additional global investment.
Recommendations by TAG
TAG called for fully-engaged political commitment, Prime Minister’s directives to mobilise all sectors including the army following a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) declaration, unanimous parliamentary resolutions, and national financing of the programme.
TAG appreciated the political commitment in health packages such as Sehat ka Insaf in K-P and Balochistan, and the PM’s role in involving the army to provide security and access to polio vaccinators.
In addition to this, the mobilisation of national assets, especially the army and administrative machinery can help a lot.
They suggested that Pakistan develop a roadmap to put the national polio programme back on track, resume vaccination in Waziristan, address insecurity and chronic gaps in reservoirs and high-risk areas. They also called for a plan to stop transmission during the next low season — the first half of 2015.
TAG strongly recommended close coordination and management of all people and organisations fighting against polio and said negotiations with local leaders and even militants to allow vaccination should be prioritised.
It added that partners should review and optimise their own capacity and fully support the establishment of robust emergency operations management.
For Karachi, TAG recommended that the two governing parties should share leadership and accountability for success in Karachi and that they should engage with leaders from affected communities.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 6th, 2014.
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