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ISLAMABAD: After a delay of about seven months, Pakistan finally decided to implement the recommendations of the Independent Monitoring Observatory (IMB) on poliomyelitis in order to definitively eradicate the virus from the disabling disease.
The 16th IBM report, published in October 2018, indicated that the polio program in Pakistan thought to have made no progress since 2017 and suggested eradicating the virus in wastewater because it (the virus) could bounce at any moment. .
"Right after my appointment, I decided to implement the DGI report, but the people involved in the polio program and some partners suggested not to do so because it could have political implications," he said. said Babar Bin Atta, the Prime Minister's main interlocutor for polio, Dawn.
"It is unfortunate that the number of polio cases reported for the current year has reached 21 versus 12 last year and only eight in 2017. The only option now is to implement the report of the DGI, "he said.
The action was delayed for seven months for fear of political implications
DGI works on behalf of international donor agencies and publishes country performance reports every six months. In November 2012, the DGI recommended the imposition of travel restrictions on Pakistani nationals. These recommendations were finally implemented on May 5, 2014. Because of these recommendations, it is imperative that all Pakistanis receive a polio certificate before going abroad.
The 16th report of the DGI, a copy of which is available with Dawnsaid polio program officials in Pakistan and Afghanistan had misconceptions.
"Some seem to blame others for their poliovirus. In Jalalabad, it was reported that wastewater in Pakistan was depositing viruses in eastern Afghanistan. Senior officials of the Pakistani government structure explain that all their cases go back to Afghanistan. Dangerously, this point of view, which is not based on reality, seems to be contagious, "he said.
"Despite the considerable progress that Pakistan has made since 2014, when the DGI described its polio program as a" disaster ", it is now clear that the program in Pakistan has something serious," the report says. "Virology data shows continued transmission in key reservoirs, including Karachi, Quetta Block and Peshawar. This has not been corrected. This can not be considered as a kind of glitch. "
The report warned that the level of routine immunization was very low in different parts of the country and that this could be the cause of another polio outbreak, as in Dukki (Baluchistan), where three polio cases were reported. reported in 2018.
"In the absence of valid data on actual vaccination coverage and the widespread presence of poliovirus in environmental samples, the question remains: how many more Dukkis are waiting in Pakistan? The review team reported a lack of visibility of politicians and government officials in Karachi. Communities see mainly foreigners, not their own people. Most of the time, the Deputy Commissioners are not visible on the streets. This has undoubtedly reinforced the public perception that polio is a "foreign" program, "says the report.
"The presence of senior politicians and government officials alongside collaborating partners would inspire both the community and polio workers, and would also help leaders understand the weaknesses of the polio program. In addition, sources at the DGI report difficult relations in Karachi. These problems have not been decisively resolved and may lead to new problems. It is not acceptable to have this in such a high priority area, "he said.
Mr. Atta stated that, just after his appointment, he had decided to remove all the weaknesses highlighted by the DGI and to implement all his recommendations, but some polio program personalities and their partners had suggested staying "Moms" implications.
"We can not continue to deceive ourselves because that would make the problem even worse. We will now implement the DGI recommendations in the letter and in the spirit, "he said.
Posted in Dawn, June 2, 2019
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