Nawaz wants provinces to redouble efforts against polio

Premier writes letter to chief ministers of all provinces. Asks them to work with govt organistaions

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday wrote letters to all the chief ministers of the country, urging them to carry out steps for polio eradication.

He called on provincial governments to redouble their efforts for eradicating polio.

Nawaz urged them to immediately map out and identify high risk areas in their respective provinces, adopt specific interventions for each of them depending on their particular requirements.

His letter comes on a day when seven more cases were confirmed in the country.

Below is the text of the letter sent by the PM:

I am writing to draw your attention to the endemic eruption of polio virus in Pakistan, as a result of which polio has been declared a public health emergency and the National Emergency Action Plan (NEAP) launched for its eradication. Quite recently the Independent Monitoring Board for Global Polio Eradication has also declared polio as an international emergency. On the other hand, the Emergency Committee of the International Health Regulation has recommended that polio vaccines be administered to every international passenger travelling out of Pakistan.

The concern of the world community on the rapid spread of polio in Pakistan was also raised by the President of the World Bank during my visit to the USA in September 2014. It has been predicted that if the spread of polio is not contained, the number of polio cases in the country may increase tenfold over the coming years. The situation is indeed alarming, rendering it difficult to over emphasise the need to strengthen the oversight and accountability mechanisms within the NEAP, which inter alia focuses on: ensuring access to target populations in security-compromised regions; controlling further outbreaks in reservoir areas; and maintaining the polio-free status of the rest of the province.

The urgency of the situation demands that Provincial Governments redouble their efforts for polio eradication and work in harmony and close coordination with the Federal Government establishments associated with the implementation of the National Emergency Action Plan.

I would urge you to immediately map out and identify high risk areas in your province and adopt specific interventions for each of them depending on their particular requirements.

You would also need to instruct your district level administration to ensure vigilant oversight of the polio campaigns during the upcoming low transmission season (i.e. December 2014 to May 2015)