Govt to control polio spread: Nasir
By Bushra Rafique

ISLAMABAD—Minister for Health Muhammad Nasir Khan on Thursday said the government is fully committed to control polio, ensuring that all children are fully protected against the virus through immunization.
Addressing a press conference here alongwith Special Advisor to Director General, World Health Organization (WHO) Dr. David Heymann, the minister said cross-border population movement is the key reason for ongoing transmission of polio virus. He said in total 33 polio cases, 15 were reported in NWFP, nine in Balochistan, seven in Sindh and two in Punjab. He said the most persistent reservoir of polio-virus remains in those districts which share border of neighbor country.
“Every polio virus can be traced to its origin. We have to look into the origin of polio virus which comes to our side,” the minister said. He said although Pakistan continues to have cases of polio, the country is on the verge of eliminating this crippling disease. He however said the government is making all out efforts to overcome the situation and is committed to revitalizing routine immunization, as a key strategy for eradicating polio and improving overall child health.
The minister said anti-polio programme will continue until no more polio cases are reported from any part of the country. He said the number of polio cases in Pakistan has been reduced from 199 in the year 2000, to 28 cases in 2005. So far in 2006, Pakistan has 33 cases of polio. If all children under five are immunized during the upcoming campaigns, Pakistan could be the polio free country in the world, he added.
The minister said polio cases in Pakistan have been reduced from 1,000 to just 33 in 2006, shows that the vaccine works. He said polio vaccine being used in the country is safe and effective. He said vaccine quality is approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is the same vaccine that has been used in most of the world to eradicate polio. He said achieving a polio-free future for the children, the country requires the continued commitment and support from all sectors of society including government, opposition, teachers, religious leaders and health workers.
He said government is committed to the goal of eradicating polio and the implementation of the recommendations of the recent meeting of the global expert Advisory Committee on Polio eradication, held in Geneva. He said the Advisory Committee highlighted that Pakistan has the best opportunity to become the next polio-free country in the world, if high quality campaigns which reach every child are implemented in 2007.
He said as recommended, Pakistan will implement eight rounds of polio campaigns in running year to ensure polio transmission is stopped and to ensure that all children are fully protected. The minister said to be fully immunized and fully protected a child must receive the polio drops during every round of anti-polio campaigns as well as through routine immunizations at a health facility.
He said if a child has been immunized against polio through routine immunization, it is important that they have the additional drops to boost their protection even further. He added each dose of vaccine increases an individual child’s protection from polio.
Secretary Health Syed Anwar Mehmood said the situation is satisfactory as no latest polio case was reported from large population of Punjab and county’s most populated city of Karachi. He said due to commitment and will the government will control the situation.
Special Advisor to Director General, WHO, Dr. David Heymann said it is our responsibility to protect children from disability by ensuring they are not deprived of polio drops- the only protection against disability caused by polio.
He said religious and community leaders should come forward in this regard to play their due role to ensure that children are provided anti-polio vaccine.