ISLAMABAD, Feb 11: The two-day meeting of health officials from Pakistan and Afghanistan concluded here on Wednesday after endorsing recommendations of the working groups proposing joint strategies for stopping cross-border transmission of polio virus.

Chairing the concluding session, Federal Secretary Health Sibtain Fazal Halim said polio eradication was critically important for the region.

He said both the countries were facing common challenges with regard to the continued transmission of polio virus. Referring to insecurity as a major challenge to reaching every eligible child with polio vaccine, he said the polio teams continued to look for opportunities to immunize children whenever it was possible.

Active engagement of key religious leaders and tribal elders to negotiate access and win support remains a key strategy in those areas, he added.

Protecting the health of our children is a collective responsibility, said the official.

Dr Taufeeq Mashal, the Director General Health Afghanistan, said with regard to polio Pakistan and Afghanistan were one epidemiological block and, therefore, joint planning and strategies were an imperative need.

“Children of the region and the world look towards us for redoubling efforts to root out polio,” he remarked.

He said security along the border areas was a major impediment to immunization campaigns and the health authorities continued to make concerted efforts in engaging with the stakeholders including anti-government elements to achieve the objective of reaching maximum number of children.

Dr Mashal said the health authorities of both the countries could expand their cooperation to other areas including human resource development besides undertaking joint health initiatives.

Earlier, presenting recommendations of the working groups comprising experts from Pakistan, Afghanistan and international partners, Director General Health Pakistan Prof Rasheed Jooma said it was agreed to improve the condition and visibility of vaccination posts at the border crossing points.

Community influencers would be jointly identified in the border areas to overcome security issues, he added. Henceforth joint micro-planning and mapping of the border areas would be done by both sides.

The DG health said a need assessment would be carried out for establishment of new vaccination posts in the border areas besides strengthening of institutional arrangements including regular contact between health officials and exchange of technical data.

The meeting was attended by World Health Organisation representative in Pakistan Dr Khalif Bile, Unicef country representative Martin Mogwanja, Dr Altaf Bosan, polio country head; Chris Maher and Dr Wahdan from WHO, besides representatives of major international partner agencies.