Dr Muhammad Rafiq Program Specialist, Unicef has said that Pakistan was still on the top of the list of polio endemic countries and there was need of collective efforts and political commitment to halt circulation of poliovirus in the society. He was addressing inaugural ceremony of March 2009 anti-polio round in Peshawar.
Referring to the current National Immunisation Days (NIDs) round, he said that it was reminding us our parental responsibilities for preventing our children from the crippling disease of polio. He said that in view of the outbreak of polio in the province last year, there was need of more efforts to control further the incidents of this dreadful disease.
"Statistical data shows that there are 53 polio cases reported in 2008 in the province while in 2009 we have 4 cases till now", he maintained. "This is a wake up call for all the polio partners and community at large, there is no room for complacency and much more needs to be done", he asserted.
He went on to say that there was dire need for strengthening the drive through the involvement of top leadership, elected representatives and civil society. He regretted that four percent children had been missed in the January polio round due to lack of awareness and misconceptions about polio vaccine among the parents.
The expert said that Unicef was supporting communication and social mobilisation activities in the province to make community fully cognisant about the benefits of vaccination. The Program Specialist elaborated that the 26 Communication Health Support Officers in high-risk district and 47 social mobilisers in different agencies of Fata have been appointed to sensitise the community.
Similarly, he said that in order to ensure vaccination of the travelling children across Pak Afghan border, 46 vaccinators and 2 supervisors had been deputed there with the support of Unicef. "Social mapping has been done to get support of the religious leaders, elected representatives and influential figures for ensuring administration of anti-polio vaccine to all under five year children.
"Routine EPI is a cost effective intervention having greater benefits for the health and survival of children and basic strategy for polio eradication as well", he remarked. He said that Society must play its due role for the benefit of the children so that they could actively contribute in social, economic and political development of the country in future. He appealed to the media-men to make people aware of anti polio drive to be run up to 18th March convincing parents get immunised their under five years children.