RAWALPINDI: World Health Organisation (WHO) Technical Advisory Group on Polio Eradication has asked the administrations of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to keep vigilant eye on boundary area of the twin cities where people coming from other provinces reside.

The delegation of the advisory group led by Jean Marc Olive met Divisional Commissioner Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry and Deputy Commissioner Talat Mehmood Gondal on Monday and reviewed the performance of anti-polio campaigns in the city.

During the meeting, it was decided that the Rawalpindi commissioner and deputy commissioner would meet cantonment executive officers of Rawalpindi and Chaklala to get the permission for polio teams in garrison residential areas.

The meeting was informed that that the environment samples of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad was cleared of the poliovirus this month.

A senior official of district administration told Dawn that the delegation emphasized to complete the macro plans for the effective anti-polio campaign in the sensitive union councils.

He said the delegation had also asked the teams to focus on the union council. Under the standard operating procedure, the weak nerve system children would be monitored by the health authority.

Talking to Dawn, National Coordination on Polio Eradication Dr. Rana Safdar said that the basic aim of the delegation was to review the work on polio eradication.

He said that after improving coordination between the twin cities administrations, the poliovirus ended in the sewer of Rawalpindi and Islamabad but there was a need to be vigilant.

He said that the delegation of the WHO Technical Advisory Group was satisfied with the polio campaign.

“The administrations of Islamabad and Rawalpindi expressed their commitment to eradicate the poliovirus from the area,” he said.

When contacted, Rawalpindi Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr Suhail Ahmed said the delegation was informed that the transit camps to administer anti-polio vaccination to the people coming from other provinces had been increased.

He said that the district administration and health department was working to end the refusal cases in the district while involving the local community to create awareness among them that the vaccination was necessary to save their children from the crippling disease.

“We will start anti-polio drive in the district from April 9. In this campaign, we will also administer Vitamin A to children to avoid measles,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2018