ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services on Tuesday proposed to the government to launch polio campaigns without prior announcement to avoid killings of polio workers.

Security of polio workers has always been a major source of concern for the health department. Even international organizations have advised Pakistan to ensure security of the polio workers.

Since July 2012, as many as 99 persons (50 security agencies officials, 33 polio worker and 6 civilians) have been killed and 77 injured during polio campaigns.

So far 39 culprits have been arrested and cases against them are being heard in different courts.

Last year 14 FC personnel, who were going for polio duty, were killed during a blast in Khyber Agency. Besides, two officials of UN agency were kidnapped from Khyber Agency in February 2014.

On April 17, Pakistan Army was asked to assist the civil government to arrest the rising incidents of violence and make the polio campaign a success.

Because of the importance of the issue meeting regarding security for polio teams was held at GHQ to coordinate details of the campaign with particular emphasis on security and access to affected areas.

The chairman standing committee Sajjad Hussain Turi said that attacks on polio teams can be avoided if campaigns are held without announcing the date of campaign. It will decrease chances of attack on the polio workers, and ultimately help in eradicating the disease from the country, he said.

The minister NHS, Saira Afzal Tarar, said that steps were under way for the eradication of polio.

“We have talked to Afghanistan that polio campaigns should be started at the same time on both sides of the border and both countries should be treated as one bloc,” she said.

Head of the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) for Polio Dr Rana Safdar while talking to Dawn said security planning has been made an integral part of the polio campaigns.

“It has been decided that in the advertisements of polio only message that polio drops should be given to children will be given and dates will not be announced. It is further decided that in high security areas campaigns will be announced a day earlier or hold it for one day,” he said.

“Moreover, it has been decided that dates of polio campaigns will not be announced,” he said.

During meeting remarks of the chairperson committee Senator Turi brought smile on every ones face.

While briefing about the fake medicine and factories situation Mr Turi said that how many of officials of the ministry of NHS had degrees from Axact.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2015

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