PM calls for national mobilisation to combat polio

ISLAMABAD: As polio crippled another child in Killa Saifullah district of Balochistan, marking the 11th case in the province and the 14th in Pakistan this year, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday pledged not to leave Pakistani children at the mercy of the crippling poliovirus and directed authorities to address the surge on a war footing.

Officials in the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) reported that a 20-month-old girl in the Killa Saifullah district of Balochistan was paralysed by Wild Poliovirus 1, raising the total number of polio cases in Balochistan to 11 and 14 across Pakistan in 2024.

In response to the alarming rise in polio cases, the premier chaired a crucial meeting to review the progress and challenges of the ongoing polio eradication efforts across all provinces.

“We cannot leave our children at the mercy of the crippling poliovirus. The surge must be addressed across the country on a war footing,” he declared at the meeting, which was attended by senior cabinet members and PM Coordinator on Health Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmed.

The meeting also included the Sindh governor and chief minister of, PM’s Focal Person on Polio Ayesha Raza Farooq along with the national team, all chief secretaries, inspector generals of police, and senior representatives of partner agencies, including WHO, Unicef, CDC, BMGF, and Rotary Foundation. Bill Gates, Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Chris Elias, Chair of the Polio Oversight Board, also joined the meeting virtually.

Welcoming the participants, the prime minister expressed his concern about the virus surge observed over the past year, which has paralysed children across the country. He emphasised the need for a renewed, nationwide effort to eradicate the poliovirus, expressing special gratitude to Bill Gates for his continued support and unwavering commitment to the cause.

Bill Gates commended Shehbaz’s commitment and strong government ownership of the polio eradication efforts. While acknowledging the challenges in the remaining areas of concern, Gates praised the new programme leadership for accepting the challenge during a crisis and recognised the dedication of the country team in reaching every child during the July polio campaign. “Sustaining this hard work over the next few months can help in halting poliovirus transmission in the country,” Gates stated.

The PM’s focal person on polio provided a detailed overview of the current polio situation in Pakistan, highlighting key challenges and programmatic gaps over the last couple of years that have contributed to the recent virus surge.

“The outbreak, largely driven by intense circulation in traditional core reservoirs of Karachi, Quetta block, and Peshawar, has so far affected 14 children in 2024 and infected over 50 districts across all four provinces and AJK,” she remarked. She also informed the forum about extensive consultations held over the last four weeks with provincial teams and partners, leading to the development of a consensus roadmap aimed at resetting the program to eradication levels, reversing the trends of virus spread, and interrupting transmission by mid-2025.

While updating on the progress already made to reset the program, the focal person underscored that the next four months are crucial for reversing the tide by conducting three high-quality vaccination rounds by December 2024, alongside strategic use of complementary activities through integrated service delivery in critical areas.

She assured the forum that all necessary prerequisites are being met to ensure optimal coverage during these critical campaigns. “Strong programme oversight, performance management, and accountability will help us achieve the desired results,” she stated.

Following the national overview, all provincial chief secretaries updated the forum on actions being implemented in line with the national roadmap. The PM’s coordinator on health assured the provinces of full support in finishing the job together.

The prime minister lauded the country team for developing a clear plan through a well-collaborated effort and directed all relevant authorities to ensure optimal support for its successful implementation. He also acknowledged the critical role of law enforcement agencies in facilitating vaccination activities on the ground and urged renewed focus during the upcoming campaigns, particularly in areas with special security needs. In his closing remarks, Bill Gates termed the 2024-25 roadmap as realistic and appropriate. Assuring his fullest support, he expressed confidence that with the current levels of government commitment and sustained efforts, the goal of interrupting transmission by mid-2025 would be achieved.