Canadian envoy briefed about polio eradication

LAHORE
Canadian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ms Heather Cruden Wednesday visited Emergency Operation Centre at Punjab Directorate General Health Services and held a meeting with top officials of the Health Department.
Punjab was represented by adviser to chief minister, Khawaja Salman Rafique, Punjab Health Secretary Jawwad Rafique Malik, Director General Health Services, Dr Zahid Pervaiz and Director EPI Dr Munir Ahmed, according to a handout. Unicef Pakistan chief Angela Kearney, who was accompanied by senior officials of Unicef, Punjab, attended the meeting. Representatives of WHO and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and partner organisations were present in the meeting.
The high Commissioner appreciated the performance and progress of the Punjab government and said polio eradication as well as mother and child healthcare programmes were high on the agenda of the Canadian government. Khawaja Salman Rafique said Punjab had been polio free in the year 2015 so far and with firm commitment from the highest political leadership, the province is eying complete polio eradication in near future.
Secretary, Health, Jawwad Rafique Malik apprised the High Commissioner of the efforts of the Punjab provincial government on improving the routine immunisation. He shared the details of the technology-driven E-vaccs system through which the progress of vaccinating staff is monitored through purpose-built smart phones and applications. He said through the GPRS coordinates, the compliance with the vaccinators’ tour programme is ensured so that desired level in routine immunisation is achieved.
The secretary shared that immunising the migrant and mobile population remained a challenge in Punjab, but efforts were still under way to ensure complete coverage. The Canadian High Commissioner suggested that this innovative use of IT technology may be extended to other healthcare programmes.
EPI Director Dr Munir Ahmed gave a presentation on the issues and challenges vis-à-vis polio eradication in Punjab. He elaborated details of routes used by the migrant population through maps and special measures for southern districts as part of the larger focus on central Pakistan. Dr Munir Ahmed mentioned that health camps set up in priority-1 and two districts were a great success. He appreciated the support of Unicef in providing quality human well as technical resources to the polio eradication efforts. He said one of Punjab’s strength was PEI/EPI synergy and smart use of polio assets for improving routine immunisation.