An “emergency operation cell” established in the Federal Expanded Programme Immunisation (EPI) Cell was inaugurated on Monday to expedite efforts to fight the poliovirus by strengthening routine immunisation coverage across the country.
An official of the health ministry who wished not to be named said the cell has been set up with an objective to improve coordination, evaluation and timely implementation of plans related to routine immunisation across the country.
Through the cell, real-time data will be collected from fields and campaign will be monitored to address issues and challenges, said the official.
“Lack of coordination between federal and provincial governments is the major challenge the county is facing currently in eradicating polio,” he said.
A designated communication department will also be set up in the cell to update media and public about the anti-polio drives.
Nationwide vaccination campaign kicks off
“The federal government is fully committed to ensuring unstinted support to provinces to reach out to each and every child,” said Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Secretary Ayub Ahmed Sheikh, while inaugurating the cell and the national anti-polio campaign.
The health secretary also gave polio drops to a few children on the occasion.
Under the current drive, a total of 34.160 million children will be given polio drops. The cell also observed a one-day polio drive in Peshawar that immunised 635,378 children out of 754,383 targeted children.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 30th, 2014.
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