US body to help ministry plan anti-polio drives

CDC appreciates Pakistan’s ongoing efforts


Our Correspondent September 08, 2015
CDC appreciates Pakistan’s ongoing efforts. PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD:


A leading health institute of the United States will help Pakistan’s Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination (NHSRC) in planning anti-polio drives. Together they will focus on improving the quality of the campaigns to achieve maximum set goals.


Minister for NHSRC Saira Afzal Tarar on an official visit  to the Centres for Disease Control (CDC), presented a strong case to CDC director Dr Tom Frieden. She was seeking crucial support for upgrading Pakistan’s Public Health Laboratories and strengthening surveillance systems. Such a move would help bring it at par with international standards, according to a statement issued here on Monday.

Pakistan has applied for two large grants from the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) for upgrading of public health laboratories and immunisation support in Pakistan. The delegation’s visit was linked to final approvals of the grants. CDC will be helping Ministry of National Health Services in HR development and polio campaigns as well.

The minister expressed her desire to establish a robust disease surveillance system in Pakistan. This would respond to all sorts of emerging threats and mount an effective response. Dr Tom Freidan appreciated the ongoing efforts in Pakistan and assured full support of CDC in the coming years.

“Communicable diseases outbreaks are rampant in the country. We need to act fast to strengthen our surveillance system to be better prepared to deal with this major public health challenge. Surveillance system in the country needs to be responsive and cater to our needs,” said Tarar.

The Minister said, in tandem, laboratories are required to be upgraded to allow for high tech diagnostic facilities. There is a time lag in sending samples for tests abroad besides pressure on our limited resources.

Minister for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar visited the Centres for Disease Control Atlanta along with delegation, including ED NIH, secretaries’ health Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. She was received by Dr Freidan, the head of CDC and his team. She was briefed about functioning of CDC and its role in controlling epidemics like Ebola. She also was shown the “disease surveillance” system in the US and other departments of CDC.

CDC is the premier health promotion and prevention agency of the United States and has vast experience in fighting infectious diseases.

The organisation is providing critical support to Pakistan’s health system in the realm of disease control and prevention. CDC also works with several key public health institutions in Pakistan to strengthen capacity and infrastructure for public health.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8th,  2015.

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ