ISLAMABAD, July 15: Federal minister for health Mohammed Nasir Khan says Pakistan has to continue to supplement routine EPI vaccination with annual or biannual mass campaigns to achieve the global certification of being a polio-free country by the year 2005.

He was speaking at the national meeting of the district Nazims from the high-risk districts here on Tuesday.

The health minister said if transmission of polio virus was interrupted by end 2003, sporadic cases of the disease may continue in isolated areas of the country for some time. “Mopping up campaigns will be necessary to eradicate the remaining pockets of polio virus. Until global eradication is complete, high coverage of Pakistan’s children will be necessary to prevent reintroduction of the virus into the country,” the minister said.

Mr Khan said surveillance quality should be carefully evaluated in the near future, as Pakistan approached zero cases to ensure that sensitivity was enough to detect low-level circulations. In this connection, the minister urged the district Nazims from the high-risk districts to double their efforts to root out polio from their areas by reaching every child for administering anti-polio drops.

“Dedicated, honest and committed endeavours are required on the part of the parents, public representatives and anti-polio staff to reach out to every child for administering the anti- polio drops,” Nasir Khan said.

He said the district Nazims in the high-risk districts could play a decisive role in the anti-polio campaign. He said a targeted campaign aimed at specific polio reservoir districts was carried out in order to achieve the commitment at all levels.

The district Nazims attending the meeting also presented their points of view and ideas to deal with the issue more effectively.

Ejaz Rahim, the federal health secretary, said polio was a global problem that should be tackled through coordinated efforts. He said it was a duty of every responsible person to play their due role to fight against this crippling disease.