KARACHI: Community involvement against polio urged
KARACHI, Oct 1: A total of 57 polio cases were reported till September this year in the country with Sindh’s share coming to 26, 16 cases in NWFP, nine in Balochistan and six in Punjab.
In nine months, there were 57 reported cases of polio despite desperate efforts and frantic calls being made by medical community to strengthen routine immunization coverage in the country and restoring public confidence in government run vaccination centres as well as the special immunization campaigns.
Severity of situation further enhances in the backdrop of the fact that global efforts to eliminate polio are being gravely hampered due to presence of the disease in three countries (Pakistan, India and Nigeria) around the world.
Targets over the years to attain zero level prevalence of polio disease have been frequently extended during the last few years.
The world health bodies expect Pakistan along with India and Nigeria to achieve the goal by 2005, which will have to be maintained for three consecutive years before being certified “polio free”.
In the given scenario, the Pakistan Paediatric Association (PPA) has reminded people that it is not only national honour at stake, but also safe and healthy existence of local children is being compromised due to unwarranted delay in attaining the goal.
Seeking maximum community involvement in the efforts, PPA General Secretary Prof Iqbal Memon urged the masses to ensure that all children under five must be provided routine immunization either privately or from government run centres.
With particular reference to polio, he reiterated that extra or additional dosage of oral anti-polio vaccines (OPV) could be administered to all children under five at home or neighbourhood adding that these drops were absolutely safe and hold no side effects.
It may be mentioned here that 1,482 cases of the Acute Flaccid Paralysis have been registered across the country this year, besides six cases of polio compatible and 57 confirmed instances of polio.
Each of the polio case enhances vulnerability of 100 to 200 children belonging to the vicinity where the disease may have been reported.
Prof Iqbal maintained that exclusive breast-feeding during the first six months would provide further protection to infants, besides strengthening their immunity against wide range of life threatening diseases. Mothers were also appealed to comply with good hand washing practices and use of safe water.
In case of any sudden paralyses among children, parents and guardians were strongly advised to immediately contact health professionals on free hotline 0800-12012. —APP
