Polio eradication: Balochistan ponders issues related to vaccination

QUETTA:

Coordinator Emergency Operation Center (EOC) Balochistan Dr Syed Saifur Rehman has said the EOC will not tolerate any laxity on the part of officials in handling anti-polio vaccines in Balochistan while every possible step will be taken to maintain cold chain and improve the supply and demands.

He expressed these views while chairing the meeting of Vaccine Management Committee, comprising senior provincial officials of WHO, UNICEF, N-STOP, and Extended Program for Immunisation.

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UNICEF and WHO heads informed the meeting about the shortage of the vaccine and poor supply of logistics. WHO’s official said Islamabad needs to understand that Balochistan covers half Pakistan in terms of landmass which is why provision of logistics and maintaining cold chain is difficult than other provinces.

Dr Syed Saif Ur Rehman said coordination has to be improved among partner agencies and the government in eradicating polio virus from Balochistan. “There are issues but we will address them at the earliest in order to ensure that the vaccines are supplied and utilized adequately,” he told the meeting.

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The meeting decided to meet every month to closely monitor issues and address as they arise.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21^st, 2015.