For next three years: Polio programme requires $300 million

PM’s focal person on polio eradication says despite decline in cases, a lot has to be done

ISLAMABAD: The National Polio Eradication Programme in Pakistan requires $300 million and best possible human resource from across the country and its international partner agencies, to sustain and maintain its ongoing fight against the crippling disease.

Meanwhile, a visit by the World Health Organisation (WHO) delegation lead by the Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO) Dr Ala Alwan to Pakistan has provided an opportunity to the government to present before them all the progress that has been made so far and requirement of necessary financial and human resources to continue its fighting against polio.

While talking to The Express Tribune, a senior official working closely with the National Polio Eradication Programme (NPEP) said on condition of anonymity that Pakistan requires funding and human resource to effectively run its National Polio Eradication Programme for three years, 2016-2018.

The official said that since the beginning of the year, the polio situation has been very much under control as reflected by the number of polio cases reported so far this year.

“This year, 24 cases of polio have been reported so far, while 85 cases were reported during the same period last year. This shows that Pakistan is on track to eradicate polio from the country,” he said.

WHO meeting

In her briefing to the WHO delegate, PM’s Focal person on Polio Eradication Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq voiced a similar resolve saying that though there was a 70 per cent drop in the number of cases reported this year, a lot still had to be done. “Polio eradication remains a top priority of the government,” she said.

The meeting, headed by Minister NHSRC Saira Afzal, was also attended by chief of WHO Dr Margret Chan and Director of Center for Disease Control (CDC) Dr Tom Frieden.

Highlighting NHSRC’s developments and goals, Afzal said that Pakistan was taking all stakeholders onboard to device a cost implementation plan for the country to be shared with partners like WHO, UNICEF and USAID.

She said the ministry was making efforts to address the increasing occurrence of non-communicable diseases by establishing an entry unit in the ministry which is working closely with provinces and partners in the NCA.

The minister briefed that the ministry was in the process of finalising a National Action Plan for health adding that “certain areas will require continuous support form WHO and USAID”.

Honour for Pakistan

Minister for NHSR Saira Afzal Tarar was conferred with the top WHO award in recognition of her leadership to Tobacco Control initiative.

The award, conferred by Global Chief of the WHO Dr Margaret Chan was handed over to the Minister by the WHO regional head Dr Ala Alwan.

Tarar thanked the WHO regional director and said the ministry was taking all possible steps to reduce the consumption of tobacco in the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 12^th, 2015.