For high risk areas: Government to establish health camps

ISLAMABAD:

The government has devised a new strategy to reverse the spike in polio cases in the country. The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSRC) will set up 260 health camps in high-risk areas across the country in a bid to improve vaccination coverage.

The camps will be established by the ministry’s Emergency Operation Centre for polio in collaboration with Unicef in areas where acceptability of polio vaccine and access of workers has been a challenge.

“These health camps will be set up along with the immunisation drives throughout the year,” said Expanded Programme on Immunisation National Programme Manager Dr Rana Muhammad Safdar.

He said some families in high-risk areas are reluctant to vaccinate their children during every drive. “The health camps would not only administer polio drops but also provide a complete primary healthcare package to children so parents feel satisfied and secure,” said Safdar.

Children will be immunised against all vaccine-preventable diseases, he said, adding that “pregnant and lactating women will be educated about health issues,” he said.

An MNHSRC official, requesting anonymity, said 2014 was an embarrassing year for Pakistan as the country topped the global list with 297 reported cases of polio.

He said lack of coordination with international donors coupled with negligence in the last two years contributed to the polio outbreak last year.

“The only excuse the government had for increase in cases was lack of access of polio workers in North and South Waziristan but what about the cases reported from other parts of the country,” asked the health ministry official.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2014.