- AFIP commandant says army is voluntarily supporting anti-polio campaign
Speakers have said that the Pakistan Army’s awareness campaign about the anti-polio vaccination has resulted in an increase in number of vaccinated children across the country.
Addressing a symposium, they said that polio eradication was one of the highest priority programmes in Pakistan and the federal and provincial governments along with armed forces have firm resolve and renewed commitment to eradicate polio from Pakistan as soon as possible.
They said that those forces who isolated Pakistan in cricket through terrorist acts are now trying to segregate Pakistan by targeting anti-polio vaccination teams.
They have same agenda to tarnish image of Pakistan. They said now terrorists in North and South Waziristan were asking locals to provide them anti-polio vaccination for their children. This speaks of the mindset and double standards on which these terrorists operate.
“On one side they are asking locals not to get their children vaccinated and on the other hand they are desirous to have their own children vaccinated. Actually they are enemies of the state and enemies of humanity,” they said.
They said that despite all impediments Polio Eradication Plan 2014 has been moving at a much faster pace since last one month, after arrangements were finalized in a meeting with military officials on April 17 to provide protection to polio vaccination team and ensure their reach to inaccessible areas in FATA, Peshawar and Karachi.
They said security forces are now active for provision of security and reaching to inaccessible areas, the remaining administrative arrangements would remain responsibility of the civil government, they added.
After involvement of the Pakistan Army, a positive upsurge has been observed in vaccination campaign. A robust media awareness campaign has been launched in KP and FATA and progress is being reviewed regularly for coordinated decision making and accountability.
Speaking on the occasion, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) Commandant Maj Gen Muhammad Ayub said that in line with the government’s initiative to eradicate polio from Pakistan, the army has been asked to assist the civil government in making this campaign a success.
He added a meeting was held at GHQ to coordinate details of the campaign with particular emphasis on security and access to affected areas. Representatives from WHO, federal and KP governments and FATA Secretariat, attended the meeting.
He added the forum was apprised about the current polio situation in the country and challenges being faced for smooth conduct of polio campaign.
The forum also expressed the urgency for polio eradication initiative to save the future generations. The participants emphasized the need to take all necessary measures including improving security situation to make Pakistan polio free country.
He said that Pakistan is facing multifaceted challenges like volunteers to offer polio drops moving door to door were targeted and many lost their lives in the line of duty. He added not only the polio workers lost their lives, the security personal also lost their lives protecting polio worker as well.
The Khyber Agency, North and South Waziristan are areas where majority of children do not have access to the vaccine. The real challenge has been approaching these children in difficult terrains, he added. He said there are many areas in these agencies where people are not willing to vaccinate their children because of the fear from militants. He said the Pakistan Army is voluntarily supporting ongoing anti-polio campaigns. He added the army has taken a number of steps in FATA/frontier regions and Karachi to include, information and perception management campaign, dissemination of religious edicts to locals for understanding Islamic dimension and enhanced engagement with Political Agents, local mushers/elders through jirgas.
He said, “Failure is not an option as failure would be catastrophic with figures of 200,000 paralyzed children every year, so we have to work together to avert any such possibility.”
He said the Pakistan Army would fully support all stakeholders and will leave no stone unturned to make this initiative a success.
Prime Minister’s Polio Eradication Cell Focal Person Ayesha Raza praised the army’s role in polio eradication efforts. She said after involvement of the army in anti-polio drives, remarkable achievements are receiving by the government.
