ISLAMABAD: As the world marks World Polio Day, Pakistan draws world
attention as one of only four polio endemic countries globally.
With
132 new polio cases reported in 2011, there is a serious risk of
Pakistan being the last polio reservoir in the world, imperilling global
eradication efforts, unless progress is urgently accelerated.
According
to a press release, despite serious eradication efforts since the
beginning of the year, Pakistan has continued to see rising numbers of
polio cases, with Balochistan having 54 polio cases FATA (37), Sindh
(27), KP (11), Punjab (2) and Gilgit-Baltistan (1).
“We must
remember that behind every number there is the face of a child and a
devastated family” said Dan Rohrmann, UNICEF Pakistan Representative.
“We must end polio now and ensure access to all children with polio
vaccinations as specified in the President’s National Emergency Action
Plan for Polio Eradication in Pakistan. We have a huge task ahead of us,
and time is up as we are soon entering the low transmission season and
where all eradication efforts have to be perfectly synchronized. We must
act now,” said Mr Rohrmann.
WHO Representative for Pakistan, Dr
Guido Sabatinelli, commented: “Eradicating polio from Pakistan depends
on delivering oral polio vaccine to each and every child, including the
most vulnerable and the hardest-to-reach at Union Council level. This
massive undertaking can succeed, but only with the continued commitment
of the Government, partners and the people of Pakistan.”
The next polio vaccination campaign will be launched tomorrow and target 33 million children across the country.
UNICEF
and WHO are working closely with provincial governments to deploy up to
800 additional staff in the 33 high-risk districts that represent a
reservoir of the polio virus.
In addition, networks of
non-government organisations, along with religious and civic groups, are
working to mobilize community support for polio vaccinations in
targeted communities. Online
