ISLAMABAD: After decades of confrontation, the managements of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) and the Polio Programme have agreed to be on the same page to achieve the desired results.

Moreover, it has also been decided that access to data of the polio programme would be given to the EPI and the typhoid campaign which is planned in November to make it a success through coordination of both the wings.

The leaderships of both the wings held a meeting at Bhurban on the intervention of Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza.

Focal person says EPI will be given access to data on children

The meeting was related to the EPI and as per past practice representatives of the Polio Programme were not invited to it. However, Dr Mirza invited Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Babar Bin Atta to attend the meeting.

When contacted, Mr Atta confirmed to Dawn that he was not initially invited by the EPI management to attend the meeting.

“It is a fact that in the past the Polio Programme also used to remain in isolation as former focal persons believed that they worked directly under the prime minister and should not coordinate with the EPI team. So we are also equally responsible for the lack of coordination. But Dr Mirza invited me to the event and I attended it.”

He said during the event the EPI team led by its National Programme Manager Arshad Kareem Chandio said they had challenges of communication.

“We also face the same challenge and whenever a child is reported with a poliovirus it is revealed that they did not have polio vaccine during routine immunisation. The EPI team also said they lacked data and requested for access to the data of the last census to ascertain the population of children in a specific area. They also sought permission to hold a fresh survey of children.”

Mr Atta said he informed the meeting that the Polio Programme had accurate data of children.

“I offered that the EPI would be given access to data of the Polio Programme. Moreover, it was decided that we would help the EPI make the planned typhoid campaign in November a success,” he added.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) on Tuesday, the meeting of the National Inter Agency Coordination Committee was held under the chairmanship of Dr Mirza.

The meeting discussed the current state of affairs in the national and provincial immunisation programmes.

The health ministry has prepared a plan to integrate all vertical health programmes to develop a model primary healthcare system while achieving the universal immunisation coverage has been laid as a top priority agenda of the plan of action.

Dr Mirza reviewed and scrutinised all the work plans and stressed the need to integrate all parallel efforts to ensure optimal outcomes. He took cognizance of contributions by the development partners to strengthen the immunisation programme.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2019