ISLAMABAD, (MILLAT/APP): Minister for National Health Services Saira
Afzal Tarar Wednesday directed to ensure strict accountability and maintain
stringent monitoring of process to meet remaining challenges in polio eradication.
Chairing a high level review meeting on polio emergency here, the
minister urged to build on success achieved by maintaining stringent monitoring and making everyone associated with the program accountable.
She said that Pakistan had come a long way in this initiative and
under the leadership of Prime Minister, Muhammed Nawaz Sharif, the government had achieved major turnaround in polio situation that won its applause the world over.
She said that by the grace of Allah Almighty the government had met
every challenge with courage, determination and a strong political will.
The minister noted with satisfaction that there was not only a sharp
decline in polio cases but the environmental samples had been increasingly reported negative from 38 percent positive samples to 12 percent positive this year.
“Pakistan Army have played an excellent role in providing security and
access to the polio teams for which they deserve our tribute” the minister added.
She said that priority would be given to those areas, form where
persistent virus circulation was being reported.
The minister said she will personally undertake visits to the provinces
to meet provincial leadership and address challenges in areas of concern.
Reiterating fullest commitment of the federal government to the
provinces and areas in the fight against polio, the minister directed that rapid response teams comprising top level polio experts be dispatched on urgent basis wherever in the country where there was a challenge to the polio program.
Saira Afzal Tarar directed that efforts be redoubled to improve
synergy of polio eradication program with country’s routine immunization program so that immunity level of the communities was enhanced and gains made by polio campaigns were sustained.
The high level meeting was attended by Prime Minister’s Focal Person
on Polio Eradication, Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq, who highlighted the nation-wide efforts to stop poliovirus transmission.
Earlier a detailed briefing was given on progress of polio eradication
by National Coordinator, Polio Emergency in Pakistan, Dr Rana Muhammad Safdar.
Senior officials of the Ministry of National Health Services including
Secretary Muhammad Ayub Shaikh, Director General Health Dr Assad Hafeez and representatives of leading international agencies including WHO and UNICEF also attended the meeting.