Speeding Up Of Efforts Stressed To Eradicate Polio

Additional Chief Secretary Dr Shehzad Bangash Friday said that polio eradication was top priority of the government and all the line departments, law enforcing agencies and district administration must play their role to achieve the objective of polio elimination

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – APP  ) :Additional Chief Secretary Dr Shehzad Bangash Friday said that polio eradication was top priority of the government and all the line departments, law enforcing agencies and district administration must play their role to achieve the objective of polio elimination.

He was chairing a meeting of Provincial Polio Eradication Task Force held here in cabinet room of Civil Secretariat. He said “there is need of speeding up the efforts by all relevant departments especially Information, Home and Local Government Department.

He directed commissioners and deputy commissioners to lead polio eradication activities in respective districts besides engaging staff of all relevant government departments at district level. He also directed secretary home to ensure the coordination mechanism proposed by Coordinator Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at divisional and district level before every campaign.

Additional Chief Secretary also thanked national and international partners for providing technical support in the fight against the polio virus adding polio program faces new challenges in form of propaganda and refusals that is often exploited by miscreants.

He directed all Deputy Commissioners to ensure establishment of crisis management cells during polio campaigns.

On the occasion, Coordinator National Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Dr. Malik Muhammad Safi appreciated diligent efforts of Provincial EOC against polio advising strong monitoring at district level.

He said focus should also be given to management and accountability to derive better results from anti-polio campaigns.

Earlier, Coordinator Emergency Operations Center Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kamran Ahmad Afridi presented recent facts and figures of polio program efforts in KP He updated participants about operation and status of polio campaigns as well as security situation.

Meeting among others was attended by Secretary Health, Secretary Home, Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners, representatives of WHO and UNICEF