WHO, UNICEF show concern over growing polio cases

KARACHI: Representatives of World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children Funds (UNICEF) have shown concern over growing cases of polio in the country, saying the support of community and access to grass root level was very crucial in eradicating polio. Addressing a news conference at a local hotel here on Thursday, WHO Regional Director for Eastern Mediterranean Region Dr Hussein A Gezairy along with UNICEF representative Dan Rohrmann said Pakistan was responsible for many polio cases in the country, adding, the donors could only support but the major work was to be done by the government itself. There were a total of 44 cases discovered this year in the country, 12 in Sindh, 18 in Federally Administered Tribal Areas, and 11 in Balochistan and others in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he informed. Gezairy raised the question why Punjab was polio free where people with similar socio-economic backgrounds live. The regional director said many parents argued that they vaccinated the first time so there was no need of polio vaccination again and again. The regional director said there was no question about the quality of polio vaccine as it met the international standards. Gezairy also rebuffed the mindset that the vaccine was designed to create infertility in mothers and children, saying it was not true. This was the same vaccine used all over the world, he added. Sindh Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed said polio was still a problem in the country, as it had not been eradicated yet. Ahmed said P2 type of polio had been completely eradicated from the country, however, there was no case of polio P3 for last six months. The minister said the actual problem was implementation of a micro-management plan. The minister maintained that the last year flood had created further hurdles in achieving the targets. The routine immunisation was also an issue as it was declining day by day, he added. haris hanif

Home | Karachi