Coordinator, Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Polio Eradication, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Abdul Basit has attributed spike in the polio cases to parental refusal, fake finger marking and weak immunization in the province.
He said that polio cases have registered decline during the last few years in the province from 238 in 2014 to 72 in 2019.
He was addressing a media orientation workshop held here on Thursday at EOC Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Peshawar based health beat reporters. Also present on the occasion were Deputy Director EPI, Team Leads N Stops, WHO, UNICEF and BMGF.
"It is a matter of grave concern for us that the entire globe has eradicated polio except Pakistan and Afghanistan, the last two endemic countries, which is endangering not only our children but the whole world as the virus may spread again," he added.
"Baseless propagandas against polio vaccine by vested elements have badly affected the programme and put the health of our children at stake," he said.
He appreciated the positive and responsible reporting of media on polio and requested it to continue its constructive role till the virus was wiped out of the region and children were protected from permanent disabilities.
To counter the anti-polio propaganda and other programmatic challenges, provincial EOC initiated revamped communication and perception management strategy that included advocacy sessions with different stakeholders at provincial and district levels, area level challenge mapping, traditional and digital media engagement apart from establishing crisis management cell at all levels, he added.
Moreover, he added that World Polio Day will be observed on October 24, 2019 wherein emphasis will be laid on vaccination and the need to wipe out the menace of polio from the country for good.
He appealed to parents to vaccinate their children against polio and to shun anti-polio propaganda to protect children from permanent disability.
He urged media to support government in addressing hardcore polio refusals and create community demand for the vaccination as the province is struggling with the rising polio cases.
Earlier, Technical Focal Person EOC Dr Nadeem Jan gave a detailed presentation on programme updates, challenges and way forward.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019
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