Pakistan, Afghanistan agree on joint measures to eradicate polio

Islamabad

In an effort to strengthen cross-border coordination at the national and regional levels for polio eradication, both Pakistan and Afghanistan have decided to prioritise micro-synchronisation of polio campaigns at the border, closer monitoring of nomadic movement across borders, strengthening of transit vaccination, and holding of synchronised polio campaigns for the next five months.

These decisions were taken during a video conference held between national polio teams of Pakistan and Afghanistan, with the PM’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq and Afghanistan’s Senior Adviser to the Minister for Health Dr. Hedayatullah Stanikzai in the chair.

It was also decided that national representatives of both countries will meet on a quarterly basis through video conference and biannual meetings in-person.

Ayesha stressed on micro-synchronisation of polio campaigns at the border. “I would like to emphasise that this is an opportune time to bolster coordination and plug gaps during the low transmission season, which is critically important in suppressing the virus,” she stated.

Dr. Hedayatullah said  “Major polio cases in both countries are near the borderline, where there are core challenges.” He was confident that with strong coordination, polio will finally be defeated.

Ayesha talked about progress on coordination where there have been several electronic and in-person meetings between the teams of Fata, KP and the eastern region of Afghanistan, and between Balochistan and southern Afghanistan region.

Presentations from both sides reviewed progress on recommendations from the last cross-border meeting held in June 2015, and also focused on the current situation in the bordering areas.