No polio case reported in capital during last two years

Islamabad is high risk area for Polio due to mass movement and people coming from different parts of the country and it is encouraging to share that no polio case has been reported in the municipal area of the federal capital during last two years, said Imtiaz Inayat Elahi, Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) here on Thursday.
The CDA has been successful in its campaign against Polio mainly due to active participation of the partner organisations, Elahi said while addressing the launch of two-day Polio Eradication Campaign. The chairman CDA directed the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) of the authority to ensure early formulation of the Equity Health Model to provide uniform and equal health facilities to people living in every nook and corner of the capital.
The two-day Polio Eradication Campaign was kicked off in a ceremony held at City School, H-8, organised by the Directorate of Health Services. The chairman CDA presided over the function, attended by participants from International Organisations like World Health Organisation, UNICEF, PLAN International, JICA Pakistan, Rotary International. Representatives of Islamabad Police, Islamabad Traffic Police, Education Department, Private Schools and hospitals like Shifa International Hospital, PIMS, NIH, FGSH were also present.
The gathering was apprised of the present global and national status of Polio and informed that Polio has been reported in Northern Punjab and FATA, which is of major concern and presents an alarming situation which needs to be dealt on war footing.
The authority will formulate an Equity Health Model to provide uniform health facilities to all segments of the residents across the federal capital, especially to boost efforts for eradication of Polio, Elahi said, adding that a committee was constituted which is instrumental in enhancing collaboration against the menace.
He said that the Equity Health Model would be prepared at the earliest and all the partner organisations would be taken on board. He said that Islamabad is the modern capital, which would serve as a model in efforts against Polio. The chairman CDA emphasised that the goal cannot be achieved if efforts are made individually while active support of national and international organisations is required for success of the campaign against this killer disease.
He said that CDA is making all out efforts with substantial support of partner organisations to eradicate Polio from Islamabad. He said that with the adoption of new strategies, Polio coverage of under 5 year children in Islamabad has progressively risen to 91%, 96% and 98% in the last three campaigns respectively. Formally inaugurating the campaign, the chairman CDA administered two Polio drops to a child.