‘Pakistan risks becoming a polio transmission reservoir’

The continued transmission of polio in Pakistan has itself become a national emergency as the country risks becoming the last remaining reservoir of endemic polio transmission in the world.

This was said by Director, WHO Polio Eradication Initiative for Sindh, Dr. Jamil Youssef while talking to APP here on Wednesday. While appreciating the adoption of Emergency Action Plan to interrupt transmission of polio virus in Pakistan by end of the country, he attributed the situation to the failure to reach all children with sufficient doses of vaccine.

It is in this backdrop that the Government of Pakistan in close coordination with WHO, UNICEF and Rotary International has launched the emergency plan.

The goal is to interrupt transmission of polio virus in Pakistan by end of the current year, said the WHO officials.

Appreciative of the resolve expressed by the top most leadership of the country, Dr. Jamil Youssef said WHO and UNICEF have come together to help Pakistan in achieving the target that has its global implications too.

In reply to a question about Karachi, he said the fact that it hosts significant numbers of migrants and internally displaced persons makes it necessary that no child is deprived of immunisation against polio virus.

Dr. Youssef strongly dispelled the impression that there was any problem with the quality of the Oral Polio Vaccines (OPV) or that any lacunae exists in the maintenance of cold chain mechanism.

“The same vaccine is being administered in all parts of the world and each province of Pakistan. Now in several parts in Pakistan, there are no polio cases at all.”

He said the issue of refusals has to be addressed and for these communication officers, mobilisers and supervisors are being arranged by WHO and UNICEF.

WHO Coordinator for Polio Eradication Initiative -Sindh micro- level plan has been developed with all provision for its implementation with due care for minutest detail.

He sounded extremely hopeful that transmission of polio virus would be curtailed by end of the current through strong political will and coordination among all concerned stake-holders.

Our focus is to ensure highest quality polio vaccination in the high risk districts and populations that suffer from persistent transmission of polio virus or recurrent re-introduction of the virus, he said.