The assessments of international experts have suggested that Pakistan has the best chance to stop the circulation of polio virus during 2006, as it had decreased the number of polio cases from 30,000 in 1994 to 13 till July 2006 under the Polio Eradication Programme.
Before initiation of the national immunisation days (NIDs) programme in 1997 in Pakistan the number of polio cases was estimated about 25,000-30,000 per year as the routine immunisation was low. While with the introduction of national immunisation days the number of cases decreased rapidly to 1147 in 1997, which was further decreased to 558 in 1999.
To strengthen the routine immunisation, a regular house to house vaccination campaign was started in 2000, which helped in decreasing the number of polio cases year after year to only 53 in 2004 and was further decreased to only 28 in 2005. In 2006 the downward trend in polio infection continued and this year only 13 cases were reported around the country.
Two cases were reported in Punjab, four in NWFP, six in Balochistan and one in Sindh. In NWFP, two polio cases were confirmed in District Bannu and one each in D-I-Khan and Dir Lower districts. As all these districts are very close to Afghanistan and there is regular cross-border movement, hence these cases are believed to be of Afghanistan origin.
As a result of global commitment to eradicate polio many countries have become polio-free and now there are only four countries, which are endemic for polio, including Nigeria, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
It is unfortunate that baseless polio vaccine related rumours are spread, putting global polio eradication initiatives programme in jeopardy in Pakistan and other endemic countries. People of Pakistan are threatened of being deprived of living in a polio-free country.
The specialists and officials of World Health Organisation (WHO), who are known for high technical competence as well as of their trustworthiness and knowledge of religious rulings, are confident about the safety and quality of the vaccine.
The Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) having been convinced of the safety and quality of OPV (Oral Polio Vaccines) adopted more than one resolution calling on its member states to strengthen their eradication efforts using OPV.
The OPV vaccine used in Pakistan is procured by Unicef and is of the same high quality world wide. It is the same vaccine used in 50 other Muslim countries.
The OPV vaccines procured meet the specifications set by the international expert committee on biological standardisation (ECBS) with respect to purity and content.
These specifications make it impossible for OPV to contain any other undeclared biologically active substances such as viruses, hormones or other materials. No anti-fertility agent, including oestrogen and progesterone is added at any step of the manufacturing process of OPV. No such agent is present in the final product.
In order to bring Pakistan in the list of polio free countries, the Ministry of Health Pakistan has been conducting quality campaigns with the support of motivated teams in past and the vaccine used is of high quality with excellent cold chain monitoring tools.
National immunisation days for polio not only protected millions of children from unfortunate deaths and disability but also provided a chance to local health workers and volunteers in building their professional capabilities. Thousands of doctors, health workers and volunteers participated in campaigns and got jobs.
Surveillance system was established, which provided a chance to detect local problems and all kind of disease cases in early phase. Distribution of vitamin A during campaigns has averted tens of thousands of childhood deaths.
At the end it is suggested that sustained and more intensified efforts are required by the health ministry in last stages of polio eradication.
In this regard, the community is requested to continue their co-operation with vaccination teams and vaccinate their children without considering any negative propaganda.
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