Lahore, November 28, 2016 (PPI-OT): The Technical Advisory Group (TAG), global advisory body on polio eradication, has appreciated Punjab’s progress on polio eradication and recommended the province to lay special emphasis on migrant andmobile population moving from areas having polio circulation. Technical Advisory Group Chairman Mr. Jean Marc met Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique on Monday in the Emergency Operation Centre, Directorate General Health Services Punjab, to review Punjab’s progress on polio eradication.
Besides Khawaja Salman Rafique, EOC Coordinator Punjab Dr. Munir Ahmed, representatives of UNICEF, WHO and Gates Foundation attended the meeting. Khawaja Salman Rafique said polio eradication featured high on government priority and special monitors were deputed for high risk populations. He said fixed sites and mobile teams were continuously engaged to ensure every child is vaccinated.
TAG chairman especially appreciated the stringent accountability mechanism in Punjab and said Punjab was leading the way with strong systems and new innovations. Punjab has had no polio case this year where total number of cases this year in Pakistan is 18. The visiting dignitary especially focussed the vaccination of poor children moving from one place to another to earn livelihood with their families, and coverage of Still Missed childrenin campaigns.
TAG Chairman was especially keen to understand the measures taken vis-a-vis inter-provincial movement especially those from high risk areas. He inquired about the movement patterns in Lahoreand Rawalpindi, environmental samples, performance and motivation of human resource and overall routine immunization coverage. Earlier, TAG chairman met Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Ali Jan Khan in his office at Birdwood Road and discussed Punjab’s administrative measures for polio eradication.
The Secretary apprised TAG chairman of special administrative measures and plan for weak district in routine immunization. Mr. Jean Marc also visited DCO office and held a detailed meeting with Lahore district team led by DCO Usman Ahmed. DCO Lahore shared that Lahore was the largest administrative unit in the country and given scale of the challenge, his team had raised the bar and adopted a zerotolerance policy towards poor performance.
He also shared that personally monitors progress in campaigns. UNICEF representative highlighted focused community engagement activities through COMNET teamfor polio eradication and routine immunization through specially trained staff in selected high risk union councils. The TAG Chairman emphasised the need to strengthen the coordination mechanism of districts bordering other provinces.
For more information, contact:
Directorate General Public Relations, Punjab (DGPR)
Government of the Punjab
21-Mahmood Ghaznavi Road (Abbot Road), Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-99201390-1-2
Fax: +92-42-99201371-2
E-mail: info@dgpr.punjab.gov.pk
Website: www.dgpr.punjab.gov.pk