ISLAMABAD: Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for Polio Eradication on Thursday appreciated Pakistan's polio eradication performance during the last six months.
At the conclusion of its two-day meeting in Islamabad, the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) has urged the programme to maintain quality of campaign focused on improving the overall performance.
The meeting also asked to decrease the number of missed children in the core reservoir areas and to identify and address the residual risks and to act swiftly in response.
Chair of the TAG Jean Marc Olive said Pakistan colleagues presented TAG with a comprehensive picture of the epidemiological situation across the country, indicating that the initiatives and strategies that are being used show the country is on the right track to end transmission.
"I've never been so optimistic about the ability to interrupt the transmission of polio virus in Pakistan. The government of Pakistan should be extremely proud for what has been achieved so far. We all know it's not done and there is always going to be challenges and surprises as we draw closer to eradication, but we learn from surprises", said Jean Marc Olive.
"The review and recommendations of the technical consultation panel has been convened at a very critical juncture, like just before the last lap of the race. The finishing line is in sight but we have to travel at a faster pace to timely reach and cross the line.
"More than the accomplishments and achievements, we must look at the gaps to be filled and this is what is going to be the decider for success or failure."
Addressing the concluding session of TAG for polio eradication, Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination, Mrs. Saira Afzal Tarar said that the Government of Pakistan was fully committed to implementing recommendations of TAG in letter and spirit.
She said low transmission season efforts that were started in September 2015 finally came to an end in May 2016 with the end of the winters.
"I am proud to say that these efforts did make a difference and today we are much closer to our goal."
She said the program has made significant progress due to personal oversight of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister's Focus Group on Polio Eradication that brings together the country's top leadership has been able to make a real difference.
She congratulated the provincial teams for the strong work they did over the course of nine months, despite challenges and difficult times.
"We fully understand the fact that Pakistan and Afghanistan are the last two endemic countries and the global community looks towards these two countries to deliver. You must have noticed that we have certain very strong lessons learnt during the course of implementation."
One of the game changers for the programs over the last nine months in terms of improving vaccination was the community based vaccination model, she added.
The Prime Minister's Focal Person for Polio Eradication, Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq said the programme is resolutely focused on stopping persistent transmission in the core reservoirs by building on gains made to boost immunity gaps and to continue to aggressively respond to any sign of virus transmission across the country as evidenced by our current efforts in Northern Sindh, Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Southern Punjab.
"I must acknowledge the unblemished support that we are getting from international community including our friendly governments as well as the donors and partner agencies."
"WHO, UNICEF, Gates Foundation, the CDC as well as the Rotary International have stood by us through turbulent times. As we are now entering in a sprint phase towards the victory stand, we would be expecting an even more efficient fueling from these organizations during next two and a half years."
Regional Director of WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, Dr. Ala Alwan, also joined the closing session of the two day TAG meeting.
Addressing the participants, Dr Ala Alwan said "polio eradication is one of the top priorities in this region. This is a turning point in the global struggle against polio.
"The epidemiological situation is the best ever achieved now and there is no doubt that there is improvements in performance, and with the impressive government ownership of the programme, I think we can say that much of the remaining challenge is operational."
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