Phenomenal gains made in polio eradication, last push required to exterminate disease from Pakistan

PESHAWAR: Phenomenal gains have been made in eradication of polio from Pakistan during the last few years and a last push is required for complete extermination of the crippling disease from the country.

This was said by Dr. Imtiaz Ali Shah, Technical Focal Person for Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) while briefing media on Polio Eradication Initiative in workshop at Nathiagail in Abbotabad district.

The workshop was organized by Emergency Operation Center (EOC) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for apprising media about status of polio virus in Pakistan and efforts so far being made for its eradication.

Briefing newsmen, Dr. Imtiaz said in 2014 when militancy was on its peak and polio teams were not able to have access in areas mostly in FATA, the number of polio cases reported in the country was 306.

However, after 2014 when military operation started against insurgents ensuing in opening ways for vaccinating teams to administer drops in every nook and corner of the country, a sharp decline was registered in occurrence of polio cases.

The number of polio cases in the current year till June is only three which all reported in a same district of Balochistan province.

The drastic and deep plunge in number of polio cases reflects huge gains in eradication of the disease which is on its last stage and can be expunged with the cooperation and support of people belonging to all walks of life.

The only reason behind prevalence of disease in the country is misconception among people about quality of polio vaccination and objectives behind the campaign which results in refusals and causes existence of the disease despite so many efforts.

Dr. Imtiaz requested media persons to ensure balance reporting in polio related cases because media reports have very strong impact on parent’s minds who become suspicious and avoid vaccination of their child resulting in prevalence of the disease.

In this regard, he mentioned a recent incident of sudden deaths of three infants in Shaheen Muslim Town of Peshawar during polio campaign.

He said reporting of the incident without waiting for inquiry committee finding which declared deaths of all the three infants due to some ailments caused a lot of confusion and misconceptions in minds of people across the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Jaohar, Team Leader UNICEF said in categorical terms that the medicine being used for polio eradication is fully safe and has no side effects.

He said there are three types of polio virus in Pakistan and with use of these medicines two types of virus have been wiped out only one type (Type 1) is left which is called as `wild polio virus’.

He also showed ingredient of polio medicine besides displaying safety measures printed on bottle for checking expiry of medicine.

Dr. Joahar also clarified that if in case a child is ill at time of polio vaccination campaign, he can be administered polio drops because they are not harmful even at this stage and cannot cause any reaction.

However, he continued, if someone wanted to avoid vaccination due to illness of the child, he should forthwith later make arrangement for administering of the vaccine after recovery of the child.

Dr. Jaohar said in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa no case of polio is reported in current year, but existence of virus is detected at Shaheen Muslim Town and Larama on Charssada road through sanitation water sampling tests.

This shows that disease existed in the city and reason is missing of some children from vaccination mostly due to refusals.

He said after Shaheen Muslim Town incident, polio teams faced refusals to the tune of 36,000 and in the locality (Shaheen Muslim Town) the polio team was denied access in two union councils.

Dr. Jaohar also requested media persons to make reporting in a manner that people confidence is developed on its health teams and the disease is completely wiped out from the country.

He said presently there are only few cases of polio in both Pakistan and Afghanistan and both the countries can be cleared of the disease with the cooperation of people by allowing inoculation of polio drops to each and every child.

Senior Journalist and former President Peshawar Press Club, Shamim Shahid in his presentation recalled the visit he made to Afghanistan in late 90’s and said Taliban had announced seize fire for facilitation of polio team workers to administer drops.

He said under a planned conspiracy, objections are raised over polio campaigns in Pakistan which has no justification and causing disability among the countrymen.

Dr. Illauddin of World Health Organization (WHO) also made a presentation on polio vaccination and types of virus.