Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Minister for National Health Services, Saira Afzal Tarar, reviewed in detail the progress against the National Action Plan for Polio Eradication. The Secretary, Ministry of National Health Services, was also present on the occasion.

The minister was briefed in detail by the National Coordinator, Polio Emergency Dr. Rana Safdar on the recommendation of the recently concluded polio review by the Technical Advisory group which is a team of senior independent international experts.

He said that the TAG recommendations had been incorporated in the new National Emergency Action Plan for Polio 2016/17.

The minister expressed satisfaction over the positive appraisal by the TAG and said that the Polio programme had not only maintained the focus on the 11 districts of tier 1 but also chalked out an enhanced monitoring plan for tier II districts.

She said the TAG appreciated the idea of community based vaccination and now the programme was all set to enhance the scope of community based vaccination.

She said the mobile team’s performance was being strengthened and the surveillance strengthening plan was now in place for immediate implementation.

“We must redouble efforts in north Sindh and execute a complete North Sindh Action plan urgently”, the minister said adding that the Rapid Response Units were fully geared and operational at the national and provincial levels and performing their duties.

The minister directed the regular sharing of information on the population movement with the Afghanistan programme for joint risk assessment and response to any cases and outbreaks in the common reservoirs on either side. To strengthen routine immunisation in the country, the minister stressed on enhancing the PEI-EPI partnership to support the routine immunisation operations with active coordination and engagement with the EPI and partners supporting routine immunisation.