Gilani directs strict measures to ensure eradication of Polio
ISLAMABAD, Nov 24 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Thursday directed stern action against officials who fail to show results in the eradication of Polio and asked Provinces to double their efforts towards making Pakistan a polio-free country.Chairing a meeting of his Task Force on Polio Eradication, Gilani took strong exception to the performance of officials who fail to meet the benchmarks.“Do not transfer them, but sack them, if they do not perform,” he said. The Prime Minister said all measures be taken to eradicate the crippling disease from the country by 2012, under the National Emergency Plan.Prime Minister Gilani also appointed Begum Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Sector as Focal Person for Coordination and Monitoring of Polio Eradication in Pakistan.
Prime Minister Gilani urged the Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, all Chief Ministers and the Prime Minister AJK to take up the issue on priority, hold monthly review of polio situation and send reports to the prime minister.
Gilani who had pledged to the leaders of the Commonwealth Summit at Perth Australia to utilise all possible resources and take measures regarding polio eradication said no lapse would be tolerated.
 The Prime Minister recalled his joint press interaction on the issue along with Prime Ministers of Britain, Canada, Australia and the President of Nigeria at the Commonwealth Summit and said Pakistan was amongst the few countries, still confronting the deadly disease. He mentioned that he informed them that Pakistan was taking all measures and employing innovative strategies to stop the spread of polio virus.
The meeting was informed that according to the latest tally, 158 cases of Polio have been detected in the country; with 29 in Sindh, 63 in Balochistan, 4 in Punjab and 14 in KPK and rest in AJK and GB.
 He also directed to involve parliamentarians, religious leaders, local notables and large scales of NGOs with outreach in the rural areas of the country.
 Gilani directed authorities to ensure better coordination with primary health care initiatives and Lady Health Workers. He proposed direct involvement of media on the issue of polio eradication.
 He said that universities be involved for Third Party Monitoring of the Polio campaign and appreciated WHO, UNICEF, the government of Japan, Bill Gates Foundation for financial and technical assistance.
 He said all provinces including Gilgit Baltistan be fully prepared for implementing campaign initiative titled “National Immunization Day” commencing from 19 December to 22 December this year throughout the country.
 He thanked the governor Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Chief Ministers and Prime Minister of AJK for their presence and for demonstrating strong commitment to the cause of polio eradication.
 The meeting focused on an in-depth discussion on issues and challenges affecting polio eradication in the last meeting of task force held in June this year.
He said that the focus of the discussion in the meeting was on Pakistan which had been reported with the highest number of polio cases in the world and was a cause for concern amongst the global community. 
 He stressed the need to redouble the efforts as it was vital for country’s prestige and standing in the comity of nations. He said the National Emergency Action Plan was developed in consultation with all Provincial Governments and with the support of international partners. 
 The plan introduced innovative strategies to stop the rise in polio cases. The Plan was approved by a high level meeting participated by Governor KPK, all Chief Ministers and Prime Minister AJK on January 14.
 Gilani said the President of Pakistan launched the Plan in a ceremony which was attended by his daughter Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, Ambassador for Polio Eradication, on January 24.
 The Plan focuses on greater ownership, oversight and accountability at the federal, provincial, district and Union Council levels besides strategies to ensure access to security compromised areas so that every eligible child is administered the polio vaccine.
 He expressed confidence that with one hundred percent implementation of the Plan, the government will be able to stop the spread of the polio virus and meet targets. 
 Special monitoring cells have been established at the Prime Minister’s Office and in offices of the Chief Ministers to monitor the initiative on regular basis and submit reports to the Prime Minister and all Chief Ministers, he added.
 Regarding the critical situation of Polio Eradication in FATA, he expressed satisfaction that a special civil-military coordination committee has been formed with chapters in all agencies of FATA.
The committees work closely in providing security to the polio teams to ensure access to children in areas cleared by the armed forces.
 He said innovative solutions like Immunization Plus have been successfully introduced in FATA with encouraging results, Pakistan Army Field Medical Camps have also made special arrangements to administer polio vaccine to the children in FATA agencies.
 “From 42 percent districts reporting 95 percent coverage, we have now progressed to 76 % districts reporting 95 percent coverage which is a marked improvement,” he added.
 The meeting was attended among others by Minister for Interprovincial Coordination Mir Hazar Khan Bijrani, Governor KPK Barrister Syed Masood Kausar, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Chief Minister KPK Amir Haider Khan Hoti, Chairperson BISP Farzana Raja, Begum Shahnaz Wazir Ali, provincial ministers, representatives of WHO, UNICEF, JICA, USAID, World Bank, Gates Foundation, Rotary International.