Pakistan on course to defeating polio, Ayesha tells WHA

Islamabad
Pakistan is on track to defeating polio. The key issue of accessibility that was the single major impediment in the fight against polio has been effectively addressed through decisive action, innovative solutions and adherence to a security strategy that is in sync with the ongoing operational strategy in sensitive areas.
The PM’s focal person on polio eradication, Ayesha Raza, held out this assurance to the global community while addressing the World
Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva on Thursday, a press release issued by her office informs.
Ayesha informed the WHA that all agencies of FATA are now accessible to health workers and polio vaccination is in full swing. In the backdrop of targeting of
polio workers that finds no precedent elsewhere in the world, security has received the greatest attention, she said.
With improved monitoring and coordination, there has been a marked improvement in campaign coverage with 70 percent reduction in polio cases and disappearance of poliovirus from environmental samples.
There is enhanced focus on missed children with establishment of data support centres to track missed children in 554 high-risk union councils, she informed.
The health leaders of the world were told that refusals to polio vaccination are now at an all-time low, with religious leaders fully supporting the cause.
Most recently, in view of a porous border and frequent movement between Pakistan and Afghanistan, both countries have been declared a single epidemiological block by the International Health Regulations Committee of World Health Organisation. In this context, cross-border collaboration on polio with Afghanistan has been enhanced, Ayesha added.
Speakers from different countries of Europe, Africa and the Middle East called for redoubling of efforts to free the world of polio.