KARACHI, Jan 2: Pakistan is on the verge of banishing polio from the country. However, if the country didn’t see to it that anti-polio drops were administered to almost all its children at least six times the disease will bounce back.
In 2001, 180 cases were reported and in 2002 only 76 were reported. The disease could be eradicated next year if the country keeps up the pressure through the National Immunization Drives.
Pakistan cannot, or rather should not, let up even after this goal is achieved, otherwise there will be a resurgence of polio virus. And once the virus is revived the people could experience outbreaks of small epidemics in certain areas of the country.
The United States eradicated polio in the early ‘90s. But it still keeps the vigil, according to the president of the Pakistan Paediatrics Association.
Prof Dure-Samin Akram said the US had specifically mounted an initiative called “mopping campaign” in this regard. She said there were certain misconceptions about anti-polio drives which needed to be removed.
“The first misconception is that repeated administering of polio drops gives rise to side effects in a child. This assertion has no basis,” she said.
The professor said there was no overdose limit for polio medicine. “In fact I am of the view that polio cannot be eradicated until almost every child gets polio medicine six or seven times.”
Some people claim that anti-polio drops contain certain population control chemicals, said Prof Akram. “This is another misconception, mainly among lower classes, which needs to be dispelled.”
She claimed the polio drops administered during the NIDs were far more effective and potent than the ones available in the market. “That’s because the polio drops for NIDs are handled far more professionally.”
Prof Akram said routine administering of polio medicine shouldn’t be discontinued. She reiterated that there was simply no room for complacency.
“Our history shows that complacency could be fatal. In 1980s, that is soon after the launching of anti-polio initiative, the coverage was very high, up to 80 per cent. But in the mid-90s the coverage had dropped to as low as 47 per cent.”
The professor said if government doctors didn’t go to a certain area during an NID, the people should lodge formal complaints with the health ministry staff as soon as possible.
“The people should take their fates into their own hands. Otherwise nothing will be achieved.”