August 11, 2008	Monday	Sha’aban 8, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Aug 10: The Ministry of Health has expressed concern over increase in the number of polio cases in the country and says that it is working on a plan to overcome the factors adversely affecting the Expanded Programme for Immunisation (EPI).

“The situation in Sindh where 11 cases have been reported so far is a cause of concern,” Health Minister Sherry Rehman told journalists while briefing them on efforts being made to address the issue. She observed that unlike the tribal areas, Sindh faced no opposition to the immunisation campaign. The persistent rise in the number of polio cases points to deficiencies in the administration and management of the campaign which must be addressed on an urgent basis, she stressed.

She said a high-level meeting recently held in Karachi reviewed the findings of the polio surveillance cell with the senior authorities of the Sindh Health Ministry and the City District Government of Karachi.

“The meeting focussed on identifying missing links in the administration of the campaign and in the coordination between the district health authorities and the management of the programme. It was decided that the district health authorities would be persuaded to make a more active contribution to the campaign. The success of our Expanded Programme for Immunisation depends on its effective implementation on the grassroots level and we cannot afford any compromises or lapses there.”

Ms Rehman said that the province of Sindh, where an immunisation drive starts on August 19, had room for better coordination between different ministries to assist the EPI initiative. “The DG of Health, Sindh, has been tasked to devise a working order between the health, education and family welfare departments so that all sections of the administration are channellised to ensure an effective implementation of the programme.”

The minister said she had directed the Health Ministry to engage in a dialogue with the authorities at the provincial and district levels to contain the problem. In this regard, the director-general of the federal Ministry of Health met the health authorities of Sindh and the regional and national WHO experts to chalk out a strategy to counter challenges impeding the immunisation campaign.