Upcoming anti-polio drive facing multiple challenges  

All civic authorities asked to contribute personnel and machinery to make polio eradication campaign a success

The locals are concerned about the success of polio eradication drive, starting from September 26.

There are concerns pertaining to the availability of human resource in many departments and issue of reaching the targeted audience and access to populace that is in transition and most importantly, the willingness of people to let volunteers administer polio drops.

Under the supervision of Sheikh Ansar Aziz, Islamabad mayor and acting chairman of Capital Development Authority (CDA), the human resource and material expertise from five different departments, namely Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration, Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI), CDA, National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) are entrusted with polio eradication campaign in Islamabad.

It is pertinent to mention here that out of 24 positions of medical officers (MO) in ICT Administration, 16 are vacant and presently only eight MOs are working in all of capital. Furthermore, the cooperation and level of coordination between the five departments is a source of concern.

The situation of other departments is no different as MCI and CDA already suffer from acute shortage of personnel and machinery. At the moment, its various employees of 50 directorates are performing duties on many ongoing projects. Furthermore, many seats of doctors, paramedics and administration personnel are vacant for past many years in CDA Hospital.

Recently, government announced the making of 46 new hospitals around the country. Out of these 46, three new hospitals are to be made in Islamabad. At present, the capital has only two hospitals, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and Polyclinic.

Ministry of CADD, who is responsible for health and education in capital after devolution of subjects of health and education to provinces, PIMS, Polyclinic and schools, colleges of Islamabad come under its watch. With schools and colleges open and staff at both hospitals already scarce, it is yet to see how CADD will manage to provide the personnel it promised for polio eradication campaign and who will substitute them during their absence.

When Pakistan Today contacted Abdul Sattar Isani, additional deputy commissioner general, he said the capital administration is fully prepared and appropriate measures have been taken in this aspect.

“We have planned everything and made sure that we reach the target we have set this year in our bid to eradicate polio,” he added.

While speaking to Pakistan Today, Mayor and CDA Chairman Aziz said that we will provide personnel from all directorates, including HRD, Environment, DMA, PR, Finance and all other departments.

“We will also hire volunteers from Union Councils and other willing individuals,” he said.

When asked about the transportation and other factors involved, he said that it will be arranged before September 26.

“The government will provide polio vaccination teams with full security and we will supervise the whole campaign and ensure its success,” he concluded.