Closure of Prime Minister's Polio Cell: Rotary International underlines implication of decision

International Polio Plus and Pakistan Polio Plus of Rotary International have urged caretaker Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso to take steps to establish the essential functions that were previously undertaken by the Prime Minister's Polio Monitoring and Co-ordination Cell in the interest of the children of the country. In a joint letter to Prime Minister Khoso, Dr Robert S Scott, Chair, International Polio Plus and Aziz Memon, Chair, Pakistan Polio Plus, have drawn the attention of the prime minister to the implication of the recent decision to close Prime Minister's Polio Monitoring & Co-ordination Cell.
In the letter they say that eradication of Polio is a global priority. Pakistan, being one of the only three polio endemic countries of the world, is under intense pressure from the international community to take drastic steps for eradication of this disease and actively contribute in the Global Eradication of Polio.
The Government of Pakistan in collaboration with partner agencies approved the National Emergency Action Plan (NEAP) for Polio Eradication with responsibilities of implementation to the District Administration.
To achieve this objective, the Government of Pakistan had in 2011, established a Cell known as the Prime Minister's Polio Monitoring & Co-ordination Cell, to monitor and co-ordinate efforts being made at the National and International level on Polio Eradication. In addition the PM monitoring cell also assisted the National Task Force on Polio Eradication headed by the Prime Minister. The Cell comprised of Public Health Specialists and Experts in Polio Eradication. It has achieved major success, and witnessed tremendous progress in this area, which has been recognised and appreciated by the International Health Forums like the World Health Assembly and the Independent Monitoring Board based in London. Due to untiring efforts, polio cases have dropped from 198 in 2011 to 58 cases in 2012 and 9 cases in 2013.
It said that under the Caretaker Government, the Prime Minister's Polio Monitoring Cell has been closed and merged with the old system, which is incapable of delivering routine immunisation or running the Polio Eradication Initiative, due to serious administrative issues.-PR