Quetta area has been consistently showing the presence of the virus. PHOTO: AFP
The government has expressed grave concern over the unsatisfactory polio situation in Balochistan and the potential threat of the virus spreading both nationally and internationally.
The PM Polio Cell has expressed concern over the Quetta area which includes Killa Abdulla and Pishin that has been consistently harbouring the virus in environmental samples. The epicentre appears to be located in Killa Abdulla which has become a big challenge for the country in its fight against this crippling disease.
Meanwhile concern was expressed over the cross-border movement to and from southern Afghanistan and neighboring Iran which is further aggravating the situation in Balochistan.
The Balochistan government has been instructed to strengthen permanent transit points to ensure polio vaccination of travellers to Iran and Afghanistan at respective exit points in the province.
The province however has yet to submit its micro plan containing information regarding the actual number of children under the age of five in the area.
In light of the polio crisis emerging in Balochistan, Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister-designated focal person to address this situation, called a meeting with Chief Secretary of Balochistan Saifullah Chattha on Friday. During the meeting she stressed on improving the polio situation in the province which has become a major cause for concern for the country in its fight against the crippling disease.
Farooq said the shortage of security personnel to provide security cover to the polio teams in Quetta district has staggered the anti-polio drive which has ultimately disturbed the national anti-polio campaign plans. Unavailability of the security personnel to escort polio teams has led to deviation in the third nationwide anti-polio drive in Quetta which was conducted this year in two phases.
Phase-1 was conducted from March 30 to April 1, 2015 in 15 Union Councils and Phase-II from April 6 to 9, 2015 in 18 Union Council. Meanwhile the result of the third nationwide anti-polio drive was unsatisfactory as a total of 15,748 children missed out on polio vaccination of which 4,766 were recorded as parental refusals.
Farooq asked Chatta to review polio campaigns on a regular basis. She instructed disciplinary action should be taken where negligence is being witnessed by any staff member associated with the polio campaign. The Balochistan government was instructed to hold an overdue Provincial Task Force Meeting.
Rana Safdar , National Emergency Operation Cell Coordinator, while presenting the situation, briefed the meeting that Balochistan had reported 73 cases in 2011 but successfully reduced the number of cases to four and Zero in 2012 and 2013 respectively. However, complacency led to reemergence of 25 cases in 2014 and another 3 cases have been reported in 2015 till date.
“Districts of Naseerabad, Jaffarabad need special attention in the context of virus circulation in northern Sindh,” he emphasized.
Sharing the gravity of situation, it was highlighted that only about 20 to 25 per cent of LQAS pass in Balochistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 4th, 2015.
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