PESHAWAR, Oct 20 (APP):Emergency Operation Center (EOC) polio Khyber Pakhtunkhwa here on Tuesday organized ‘Annual Engagement Session’ with media to highlight efforts being underway to eradicate polio and to apprise media about objectives of upcoming fIPV vaccination campaign.
The event titled ” From Headlines to Life Lines : Reporting for a Polio-Free KP” was attended by EOC Coordinator, Sarah Rehman health experts, representatives of WHO and large number of media persons.
The session discussed achievements of anti polio campaigns, immunization landscape, epidemiological trends, program progress, challenges, strategies, social hurdles and the objectives of upcoming fPV vaccination drive.
Addressing the participants, Sarah Rehman praised media for its role in efforts against polio stressing that each and every segment of society should play its role in national cause of clearing society of polio. She said that even if a single door of house was opened for polio workers due to efforts of media it would be great success for us adding that it would further pave way to achieve the desired targets.
She said that we had to collectively work and change mindset of people, address social hurdles and remove misconception of people about polio vaccine. She said that upcoming IPV campaign would prove to be a way forward to eliminate polio from society and to save future of our coming generations. She also underscored the need of more coordinated and effective vaccination campaign in southern KP and its adjoining areas to protect population living in provincial metropolis.
Dr. Sardar Alam of WHO said that we were very close to polio eradication but last nail in coffin needs joint efforts, removing mistrust and proper awareness of people about polio disease.
He also informed participants about the reasons of polio virus existence and said it is reportedly endemic in certain areas while it survives and found in sewerage lines adding that virus become active when it comes into contact with humans. He said that polio cases are only reported in Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan while the virus that is found in sewerage lines of Peshawar was of Nangarhar, Afghanistan origin.
He told that we are planning a supplementary program in addition to routine immunization campaign aiming complete polio eradication. He told that IPV and OPV vaccination campaign targets selective age group of 5 to 10 years to end ‘Chain Circulation’ of polio virus.
Communication Officer Polio UNICEF, Shadab Younas told that we want to change behavior and mindset of people as it is prerequisite to wipe out polio. She said that we have changed strategies due to diversity of communities adding that we aims to engage maximum number of people to achieve desired results of polio vaccination campaigns.
The salaries of polio workers have been increased and steps have been taken for their capacity building enabling them to cope with existing situations. She also urged media to report evidence based news, counter misinformation, amplify efforts of front line workers and utilize all available social media tools for people awareness about importance of vaccination campaigns.