ISLAMABAD: A meeting of the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) on Polio concluded in the United Kingdom on Thursday with the suggestion that Pakistan make a vigorous effort to eradicate the poliovirus this year.

The IMB cautioned against the risk of cross-border transfer of the poliovirus, since both Afghanistan and Pakistan have reservoirs of the disease, and it can be transported due to the frequent movement of people across the border.

The board works on behalf of international donor agencies, and issues biannual reports on the performance of various countries. In November 2012, the IMB recommended travel restrictions on Pakistan, which were implemented on May 5, 2014. A detailed report of the meeting will be released in two to three weeks.

Members of the Pakistani delegation included the prime minister’s focal person on polio Ayesha Raza Farooq, National Health Services (NHS) Minister Saira Afzal Tarar, NHS Secretary Ayub Sheikh, National Emergency Operation Centre head Dr Rana Safdar and representatives from the provinces and Fata. Delegations from Afghanistan and Nigeria also presented their cases.

IMB cautions against cross-border transfer of poliovirus, complacency

Ms Farooq told Dawn that Pakistan’s presentation detailed the remaining challenges in Karachi and northern Sindh, which were flagged as risks with a plan to overcome them.

“The IMB shows its full confidence in the programme capacity under the EOC network. The board has also cautioned against risks across the border,” she said. “However, the IMB has acknowledged the progress and appreciated the government’s commitment.”

An NHS ministry official said the IMB also said there was no room for complacency.

“This year, only 13 cases of polio have been reported in Pakistan as compared to 54 cases in 2015 and 306 in 2014. Moreover, all the environmental samples were negative which is a very good sign for us.”

He added: “We still have a long way to go and need to maintain the current momentum at all levels, and improve further in areas such as the Peshawar, Karachi and Quetta blocks.”

“Pakistan is a vast country with different cultures, traditions, languages and lifestyles. It is necessary to adopt area and block-specific strategies to eradicate the poliovirus from the country. Political parties, influential heads of tribes and local people are also being involved to vaccinate every child,” he said.

“We were already aware that the issue of the transfer of the virus between Pakistan and Afghanistan will be taken up, because in Afghanistan vigorous anti-polio campaigns could not be carried out because of security issues,” he said.

“We are on track and by the end of the year polio will be completely eradicated, and after that we will have to wait three years to get the certificate of a ‘polio-free’ country,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2016