Documentation directives: Speakers urge monitoring polio vaccine certification process

Expressed concern over lack of monitoring and coordination at various places where polio certificates are being issued

ISLAMABAD:

The focus of the government has diverted from polio vaccination drives towards the printing and issuance of vaccination certificates for passengers travelling aboard.

Speakers at a seminar on “Wild Polio Virus (WPV): Public Health Emergency and Pakistan’s Response”, held here on Thursday, expressed concern with the government, which they said was focussing more on printing and issuance of polio vaccination certificates rather than eradicating the disease.

They also expressed concern over the lack of monitoring and coordination at various places where polio certificates are being issued to the people travelling abroad, claiming many are given the certificates without ever being vaccinated. The speakers urged the government to effectively supervise and monitor polio eradication activities at all levels.

Ripah International University Health and Medical Sciences Dean Prof Dr Masood Anwar said acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) reporting needs to be revisited to avoid over reporting. He said National Immunisation Days (NID) should be conducted in an effective manner.

Prof Anwar highlighted religious propaganda, doubts about the quality of vaccine, change of government, devolution of power, Dr Shakil Afridi affair and fatal attacks on polio workers as hurdles in government’s fight against polio.

He suggested that the Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan governments shall ensure vaccination of people entering their provinces, particularly of those of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) or Afghan origin. Prof Anwar urged that this should be done without affecting national harmony.

“K-P government shall take decisive steps for curtailing movement of unvaccinated people from Fata into other provinces,” he said. The speaker further suggested that in Pakistan, the vaccine of choice should be Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) instead of the widely-used Oral Polio Vaccine.

Representative from the World Health Organisation (WHO) Dr Raheem Agha stressed the need for civil society to take part in the efforts to eradicate polio from the country.

Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Chairman Zafar Ali Shah said that the country was at a critical juncture and effective polio eradication activities relied on strong administrative and political leadership.

“Effective supervision and monitoring of polio eradication committees and strong motivation of workers on the frontline will be instrumental in eradicating polio,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20^th, 2014.