No polio case reported in Fata during 2017

PESHAWAR – Fata has reported no polio case in 2017 and the first anti-polio campaign of the year 2018 starts from Monday (today) with the zeal to help keep zero polio case status in Fata.

The three-day anti-polio vaccination will be conducted under the supervision of agency surgeons and security provided by political agents, commissioners and law enforcement forces.

The anti-polio vaccination campaign will continue from January 15, 2018, to January 17, 2018, followed by a catch-up of missed children.

Total of 1.25 million children below the age of 5 years will be vaccinated with vaccines by 4365 teams comprising of 3980 mobile teams, 285 fixed teams and 100 transit teams.

Fata EOC Coordinator Muhammad Zubair Khan advised the EOC Fata Team to focus on both polio high-risk settlements as well as high-risk mobile population to ensure vaccination of all under-five years’ old children in Fata.

EOC Fata Coordinator added, “We should concentrate on vaccinating the high-risk mobile children moving to and from the polio reservoir areas and the persistently missed children.”

Muhammad Zubair Khan said, “We are close to eradicating polio in Fata. We have achieved the goal of keeping zero polio case status in Fata during 2017. And we have extraordinary opportunity to achieve our goal of polio eradication. Our immediate priority should be to meet all requirements needed to secure global certification.”

While appreciating the efforts of field staff, he added, “The front line workers have left no stone unturned to safeguard children from poliovirus in Fata but this dedication is needed to be sustained with the same zeal and commitment till the attainment of the ultimate goal of polio eradication.”

Fata is without polio case for the last 17 months. Last polio case in Fata was reported on July 27th, 2016. Not a single case was reported during 2017 in Fata. So far in 2018, no polio case has been reported from Fata.

Source: The Nation