ISLAMABAD: Under the direction of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to ensure all necessary measures for fully eradicating polio virus from the country, a meeting was held at the PM House on Friday.
Minister for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar, PM’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq, representatives from all provinces including FATA, attended the meeting, a press statement said.
The meeting unanimously agreed to make all out efforts to stop the virus transmission by December 2016. It was agreed that strict monitoring and accountability for optimal implementation of National Emergency Action Plan on Polio (NEAP) 2016-17 will be ensured.
The meeting stressed the need for strengthening and implementing workable plans in all Community Based Volunteers (CBV) areas to be executed by Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) and Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), aiming 80% Penta 3 and Injectable Polio Vaccine coverage (IPV).
The meeting highly acknowledged the national polio heroes, who have greatly contributed towards the noble cause of polio eradication from Pakistan. It was decided that transfer of good performing staff shall be avoided to achieve targets at least till May 2017.
The meeting decided that planning will be initiated to utilise critical Emergency Operations Centre for Polio (EOC) network for effectively implementing national public health agenda of the present government.
The meeting observed that all provincial governments including FATA, Gilgit Baltistan and AJK shall strengthen health systems and effectively implement the national drive against polio virus.
The meeting was also attended by Prime Minister’s Secretary Fawad Hassan Fawad, Health Secretary Muhammed Ayub Sheikh, chief secretaries of Sindh, Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa, Additional chief secretary FATA, Coordinator Balochistan and representatives from GHQ.
