This World Polio Day brings mixed tidings. The vast majority of countries in the world are polio free, and for the first time ever, India has had only one case of polio this year. In contrast, Pakistan has recorded more than 100 polio cases this year – a significant increase compared to cases reported during this time in 2010. Not only has this been an issue internally, but persistent polio in Pakistan places neighbouring countries at risk. New cases in China this year are genetically linked to transmission in Pakistan. All of this underscores the need for reflection.
Pakistan has been working for more than a decade to eliminate polio, a disease that threatens our children with lifelong paralysis and even death. Most of us have seen the disease’s devastating effects firsthand – and inspired by this, we have made enormous progress. The fight to end polio in Pakistan has never been easy. Violence and insecurity, recent disasters and significant population movements continue to pose challenges that are difficult to overcome and are compounded by issues related to governance and oversight.
Yet despite these obstacles, I remain confident that we can eradicate this terrible disease. New strategies have the potential to reinvigorate eradication efforts. Ulema are working to convince families to immunise their children and this has led to a drop in refusal rates. Women health workers are going door-to-door to ensure children receive polio vaccines. Paediatricians, family physicians and leading partners like Rotary Pakistan are educating families about this disease through seminars and advocacy.
Improved vaccines and technical innovations also offer unique opportunities to maximise gains from immunisation strategies. To help bolster these efforts, international partners, including Rotary International, Unicef, WHO, the Government of Japan and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, have lent their leadership and funding to give children in Pakistan and the world the chance to be protected from polio.
Yet these advances are not enough to finish the job. We also need commitment and skilled execution at all levels, from our heads of government to local health workers. We need a civic society movement to create demand and ensure accountability. Polio eradication in Pakistan should not be a matter for the government alone, but a truly shared responsibility. Once this disease is eradicated, we will no longer need to treat children who would have been paralysed by the virus. This will allow us to save precious resources and health worker time, as well as invest funds in other maternal and child health priorities.
This week, Pakistan’s leaders will gather in Australia for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, where polio eradication will receive international attention. We are joining other Commonwealth leaders from countries that are critical to eradication efforts – including donors and those affected by polio. This is an opportunity for our government to continue to strengthen its resolve to eliminate the disease, and I hope all provincial governments will give polio the fullest attention it deserves.
In addition, earlier this week, a National Immunisation campaign brought polio vaccines to millions of children across the country. While this is an important step, health workers entrusted with the polio vaccine must strengthen efforts to reach every household and engage parents so they are willing to vaccinate their children. We must seize the opportunity during vaccination campaigns to reinforce the importance of childhood immunisations in preventing illness and deaths. Pakistan has done remarkably well in introducing new vaccines, yet overall coverage rates are low and reaching the poor and marginalised populations remains a challenge.
The solutions are at hand. The political will to eliminate polio at the highest levels of government must be translated into tangible, concrete action at the grassroots level with ruthless accountability. If we seize these opportunities – and allocate the time, attention and resources needed – then we can finally eliminate polio in Pakistan. In recent decades, polio cases have decreased by 99 percent globally, with fewer than 1,500 cases last year. We are close to making this disease only the second ever to be eliminated, after smallpox. Pakistan can help achieve this historic victory.
Pakistanis have a time-limited opportunity to end polio forever. Safe, effective and affordable polio vaccines have allowed us to get this far in the fight. Our progress proves the value that vaccines provide for our children in Pakistan and around the world. I encourage all parents to take their children to be vaccinated against polio and other life-threatening diseases. Please also encourage your friends, neighbours and family members to do the same. Vaccines can protect your children against disease for a lifetime.
The writer is the Founding Chair of the Division of the Women & Child Health, Aga Khan University and a member of the Independent Expert Review Group of the Accountability Commission of the Secretary General, United Nations.
Pakistan has been working for more than a decade to eliminate polio, a disease that threatens our children with lifelong paralysis and even death. Most of us have seen the disease’s devastating effects firsthand – and inspired by this, we have made enormous progress. The fight to end polio in Pakistan has never been easy. Violence and insecurity, recent disasters and significant population movements continue to pose challenges that are difficult to overcome and are compounded by issues related to governance and oversight.
Yet despite these obstacles, I remain confident that we can eradicate this terrible disease. New strategies have the potential to reinvigorate eradication efforts. Ulema are working to convince families to immunise their children and this has led to a drop in refusal rates. Women health workers are going door-to-door to ensure children receive polio vaccines. Paediatricians, family physicians and leading partners like Rotary Pakistan are educating families about this disease through seminars and advocacy.
Improved vaccines and technical innovations also offer unique opportunities to maximise gains from immunisation strategies. To help bolster these efforts, international partners, including Rotary International, Unicef, WHO, the Government of Japan and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, have lent their leadership and funding to give children in Pakistan and the world the chance to be protected from polio.
Yet these advances are not enough to finish the job. We also need commitment and skilled execution at all levels, from our heads of government to local health workers. We need a civic society movement to create demand and ensure accountability. Polio eradication in Pakistan should not be a matter for the government alone, but a truly shared responsibility. Once this disease is eradicated, we will no longer need to treat children who would have been paralysed by the virus. This will allow us to save precious resources and health worker time, as well as invest funds in other maternal and child health priorities.
This week, Pakistan’s leaders will gather in Australia for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, where polio eradication will receive international attention. We are joining other Commonwealth leaders from countries that are critical to eradication efforts – including donors and those affected by polio. This is an opportunity for our government to continue to strengthen its resolve to eliminate the disease, and I hope all provincial governments will give polio the fullest attention it deserves.
In addition, earlier this week, a National Immunisation campaign brought polio vaccines to millions of children across the country. While this is an important step, health workers entrusted with the polio vaccine must strengthen efforts to reach every household and engage parents so they are willing to vaccinate their children. We must seize the opportunity during vaccination campaigns to reinforce the importance of childhood immunisations in preventing illness and deaths. Pakistan has done remarkably well in introducing new vaccines, yet overall coverage rates are low and reaching the poor and marginalised populations remains a challenge.
The solutions are at hand. The political will to eliminate polio at the highest levels of government must be translated into tangible, concrete action at the grassroots level with ruthless accountability. If we seize these opportunities – and allocate the time, attention and resources needed – then we can finally eliminate polio in Pakistan. In recent decades, polio cases have decreased by 99 percent globally, with fewer than 1,500 cases last year. We are close to making this disease only the second ever to be eliminated, after smallpox. Pakistan can help achieve this historic victory.
Pakistanis have a time-limited opportunity to end polio forever. Safe, effective and affordable polio vaccines have allowed us to get this far in the fight. Our progress proves the value that vaccines provide for our children in Pakistan and around the world. I encourage all parents to take their children to be vaccinated against polio and other life-threatening diseases. Please also encourage your friends, neighbours and family members to do the same. Vaccines can protect your children against disease for a lifetime.
The writer is the Founding Chair of the Division of the Women & Child Health, Aga Khan University and a member of the Independent Expert Review Group of the Accountability Commission of the Secretary General, United Nations.
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