ISLAMABAD: A six-member delegation of the highest technical body advising Pakistan on polio eradication met with health authorities on Tuesday to discuss progressive efforts to stop the transmission of the polio virus in Pakistan.

The delegation was led by Technical Advisory Group (TAG) Chairman Dr Jean Marc Olive, and was briefed by the prime minister’s focal person for polio eradication, Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq, on the implementation of the National Emergency Action Plan (NEAP) over the past year.

“The government will remain committed to achieving our collective goal of polio eradication and thanks to all our partners for their technical, financial and political support as we approach a significant milestone in global health,” Ms Farooq said.

Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) Secretary Ayub Sheikh said that substantial progress has been made this year, evidenced by a sharp decline in recorded polio cases and an increasing number of negative environmental samples across Pakistan.

The TAG meeting brought together polio eradication experts from the government, lead partners such as the WHO, Unicef, senior representatives from across the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) and representatives of key donor countries.

The WHO representative to Pakistan, Michel Thieren, said: “It is imperative that all efforts be made, not only at technical and operational levels, but also at political and administrative levels, to redress those pockets of failure, which will seriously hamper our capacity to win this last battle."

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2016