ISLAMABAD: The fight against polio in Pakistan has reached a critical juncture as a high-level delegation from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) concluded its visit from April 30 to May 3, underscoring the urgency for innovative strategies to reach children not being vaccinated and enhanced political commitment to achieve eradication.

Led by Dr Chris Elias, Chair of the Polio Oversight Board (POB) and president of Global Development at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the delegation engaged in discussions with Pakistan’s political and security leadership to address persistent challenges in the final stages of eradication efforts.

The delegation also comprised of WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Region Dr Hanan Balkhy, Unicef South Asia Regional Director Sanjay Wijesekera, CDC’s Polio Eradication Branch Chief Dr Omotayo Bolu and Trustee Rotary Foundation and National Polio Plus Committee Chair Aziz Memon.

In Islamabad, they met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, acting Foreign Secretary Rahim Hayat Qureshi, Coordinator to the PM on Health Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath and Pakistan Army’s Engineer-in-Chief Lt Gen Kashif Nazir.

The POB is the highest decision-making and oversight body of the GPEI – the largest international public health initiative aiming to end polio globally. It was the first high-level GPEI visit to Pakistan since the formation of the new government in March. The focus of the visit was to strengthen political commitment in Pakistan to eradicate polio.

“During my time in Pakistan, I have once again been impressed by the commitment from the federal and provincial governments to stopping polio transmission. With continued commitment across the country from leaders, and at all levels, I know the final push to defeat polio will be possible,” said POB Chair Dr Chris Elias in a statement issued on Saturday.

The delegation also visited Peshawar and Lahore where they held meetings with the provincial chief ministers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab as well as provincial health ministers and chief secretaries to discuss their respective provinces’ progress and challenges on polio eradication.

“Engaging with Pakistan’s new political leadership during the visit has demonstrated the commitment of all partners to polio eradication, but we must use the coming months to leverage this commitment wisely, or we risk losing the momentum and the confidence that we can get the job done,” WHO’s Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Region Dr Hanan Balkhy.

“Pakistan has the real opportunity to stop the endemic strain of poliovirus that has been restricted to south Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Strengthening the tailored responses to the increased detections of the imported poliovirus in the historic reservoirs is going to be critical to prevent large scale outbreaks in the coming months,” she added.

“We know what to do; we know how to do it. It is incumbent on all of us – government, health workers, partners and communities – to work together determinedly to keep every child in Pakistan safe from this deadly and preventable disease,” said Unicef Regional Director for South Asia Sanjay Wijesekera.

Trustee Rotary Foundation/National Chair, Pakistan PolioPlus Committee Aziz Memon said: “Rotary International congratulates the Government of Pakistan on its progress in the fight against polio and encourages a renewed and urgent commitment to addressing the remaining challenges the Polio Programme faces.”

“Rotary has invested almost $427 million in polio eradication efforts in the country and affirms our continued support to the polio programme until the goal is accomplished and all children in Pakistan are protected from polio,” he said.

The visit coincided with the ongoing immunisation campaign from April 29 to May 6, aimed at vaccinating over 24.4 million children under the age of five in 91 districts.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2024