Ten cases of polio have been reported this year in Pakistan, which is 50 percent less than previous year's figure, Federal Minister for Interior, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao said at the inaugural ceremony of three-day "Anti-Polio Drive" here at a local hotel. He said that Pakistan is highly committed to eradicate the poliovirus as a result, 97 percent children under the age of five were covered during different campaigns.
The federal minister said that few percent children were not attended during the immunisation programme, as they were not present during the team's visit. He said that 100 percent success of polio eradication campaign would depend on the co-operation of parents, lady health workers, doctors, law and order agencies and Nazims.
The federal minister said that dedication would help the county to get rid of polio. He congratulated directorate of health, Islamabad for getting rid of the deadly disease, as not a single case was reported in capital since 2000.
He said that NWFP has not reported a single case for the last five months but Balochistan has reported one case and Punjab province in D.G. Khan district, recently reported (two cases) of active polio virus.
He recommended that involvement of District Nazims to mobilise all government resources to support immunisation campaigns would give effective results. Increased female participation in campaign will also help in increasing the coverage.
The WHO, Country Representative, Dr Khalif Bile, Dr Anthony Mounts, team leader of WHO and Dr Rafa Aziz, Unicef also addressed the ceremony.
Khalif Bile said that high quality campaigns are essential to stop poliovirus circulation. "It is necessary to ensure very high coverage during all immunisation campaigns", he added.
He said that polio campaign faced several problems in the country but involvement of neurologists, physicians, teachers and media helped in increasing the coverage. He said that government is attaching top priority to slum areas of the capital and the doctors who are practising in these areas will also be involved in this campaign.
Different participants said that polio campaign is facing problem like accessibility problem, strong opposition from religious leaders, non-co-operation from district Nazims, mismanagement and inadequate co-operation in launching of campaign in different cities.
The ceremony was also attended by more than 200 polio eradication teams members that includes doctors and lady health workers.
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