Daily Times

LAHORE: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that the immunity of the population against polio virus has increased considerably in Pakistan since 2016 while the challenges in reaching children remain.

Addressing a seminar on Poliomyelitis – The Endgame Strategy at the University of Health Sciences (UHS) on Monday, WHO Punjab Polio Eradication Head Dr Raul Bonifacio said that in the last stage of polio eradication, Pakistan has made tremendous progress towards polio virus transmission interruption and eradication.

“The number of cases has declined from 306 in 2014 to 54 in 2015, 20 in 2016 and eight in 2017. In 2018, only one polio case has so far been reported from Dukki, Balochistan,” he informed.

Pakistan is one of only three countries in the world with ongoing wild polio virus transmission, alongside Afghanistan and Nigeria. He added that eradication efforts had begun to close the immunity gaps and the programme was on track to reaching the goal of interrupting the transmission of polio in Pakistan.

Dr Raul Bonifacio further said that the genetic picture for Pakistan today provided basis for optimism especially if the gains achieved so far are sustained and intensified in the remaining areas of residual wild poliovirus transmission. He pointed out that the virus is cornered in just three remaining sanctuaries – the Khyber-Peshawar corridor, Karachi and the Quetta block. “However, the risks to Pakistan span beyond these areas and a determined focus on delivering high-quality campaigns that ensure finding and vaccinating every missed child is critical to stop virus circulation,” he opined.

WHO Surveillance Officer Dr Ujala Nayyar said that a vast majority of parents in Pakistan accepted the polio vaccine: very few refusing vaccination in the highest risk areas. She added that the programme is using a combination of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) and Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) to boost individual immunity of children. Combining OPV and IPV provides stronger protection against polio. IPV strengthens immunity in the blood while OPV strengthens immunity in the gut.

UHS Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Mahmood Shaukat called for bridging the gap in training facilities and procedures to improve clinical diagnosis of Acute Flaccid Paralysis.

Published in Daily Times, May 15^th 2018.