Inaccessibility key hurdle in eradicating polio in Pakistan

From The International News in Pakistan:

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- A total of 328,880 children in Fata and 4,471 children in four districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have remained inaccessible for polio immunisation, members of the National Steering Committee, which comprises experts from the World Health Organisation, UNICEF and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, were told here on July 26.

Seventy-three per cent of children under 5 years of age in Orakzai Agency were inaccessible. A considerable number of children in other agencies of Fata were also not accessible, the meeting was told.

Accessibility of polio teams to areas where the security operation is underway remains a major concern. The emergence of the 4th polio case from Bajaur Agency last week, which brought the tally to 31 cases so far this year, has highlighted the need to urgently access affected areas and provide immunization services before the poliovirus spreads across the country through mass migration of population from these areas.

Responding to the situation, a crisis committee titled the Crisis Task Force for Polio Eradication has been constituted in Fata. The committee is headed by the additional chief secretary of Fata, who is based in Peshawar. Secretary Law and Order and Secretary Administration and Coordination-Fata are also members of the Crisis Task Force, while Director Generals of Health and Disaster Management Authority-FATA have been included.

The Crisis Task Force also has representation of the Pakistan Army with a Brigadier from 11 Corps included, besides a representative of the IG Frontier Corps. They have been tasked to ensure access to children in areas where security forces are undertaking operations.

Besides support from the Armed Forces, the Crisis Task Force will seek to work with the local elders, influentials and religious leaders for effective implementation of the polio drive. An oversight plan is also being developed in this regard in consultation with the political agents and health managers of the area.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has requested the Medical Corps of the Armed Forces of Pakistan to provide assistance in administering polio vaccine to children in security compromised areas of the country. A letter in this regard was recently sent to Surgeon General, Pakistan Army, requesting for support in accessing and immunizing children in areas where security forces’ operations are underway.