KP governor stresses result-oriented efforts for eradication of polio

The Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Barrister Masood Kausar on Monday underlined the need for serious and result-oriented efforts for eradication of polio from FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in line with the Emergency Action Plan at the country level, saying that it was the top public health priority of the government as being a national issue and must be taken as seriously as it deserves.
"The people involved in the implementation of the Action Plan are fully accountable and they must ensure that the issue is addressed in the perspective of its significance and seriousness", he stressed. He was presiding over a high level meeting on National Emergency Action Plan for Eradication of Polio, wherein implementation process in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA at the gross root level was reviewed.
The Governor while addressing the meeting emphasised the need for creating awareness among the people about the ill-fated impacts of polio saying " we must take all people on board not only in the polio campaigns but also in the motivation and awareness efforts". He said that finding solution to the problems in FATA was also must as that were hindering our efforts for eradication of polio.
Dr Azra Afzal Pechuho MNA Convenor Task Force Committee on Polio Eradication, Mrs. Asma Alamgir MNA, member President's Oversight Committee on Polio, Rahim Dad Senior Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Syed Zahir Ali Shah Minister for Health Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sher Azam Khan Wazir Provincial Minister, Ghulam Dastagir Akhtar Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Fazal Karim Khattak Additional Chief Secretary FATA, Dr Imtiaz Ali Shah Provincial Focal Person for Polio, Commissioners, DCOs, Political Agents and officials from Health Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA attended the meeting. Dr Elyas Durray from WHO, Dennis King from UNICEF and Dr Waqar Ajmal from Bill and Malinda Gates Foundation were also present in the meeting. Secretary Health Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Munir Azam and Secretary Administration and Co-ordination FATA Abid Majid briefed the meeting on the efforts for polio eradication at the districts and Agencies level and highlighted the current state of arrangements in this regard.
They said that the high risk areas had been properly focused by holding special campaigns besides Short Interval Additional Dose Strategy. Case response campaigns were also held in Torghar and Bannu districts after the emergence of fresh cases.
It was further stated that in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 75 percent UC target had been achieves besides covering refusals. As regard FATA the meeting was told that Bajaur and Kurram Agency had 100 percent coverage. Since most of the tribal area is inaccessible 28 transit teams have been deployed at different points to cover children coming from inaccessible to accessible areas.
The Governor expressed gratitude to the donors and partners for their commitment and resolve for polio eradication. He said that a meeting of FATA parliamentarians would be convened to make them fully involved in this national issue of high importance and significance. Dr Azra Afzal Pechuho in her remarks noted that despite concerted efforts; polio was still there, which was the matter of concern for all. She said that Pakistan should not be the last country to eradicate polio adding that unless we achieve 100 % target in vaccination, we would not be sure of the success. She urged that actions against refusals should be initiated as the state owned the responsibility to protect every child from the diseases.
She urged that District and Agency level efforts should be further strengthened and the people with poor performance should be held responsible Ms. Asma Alamgir while recording her remarks urged the need for preparing specific plans for each District and Agency and making the DCOs accountable for the performance and achievements. She suggested that parliamentarians should be actively involved and mass awareness campaign should be further expanded. WHO representative Dr Elyas Durray, Mr. Dennis King of UNICEF and Waqar Ajmal from Bill and Malinda Gates Foundation besides the Chief Secretary Ghulam Dastagir also spoke on the occasion. Later the three day polio eradication campaign in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA was formally kicked off. The Governor Masood Kausar and Dr Azra Afzal Pechuho administered polio drops to children to inaugurate the campaign.