Two in every three children paralysed by the polio virus in the world belonged to Pakistan, a source from WHO Pakistan maintained. “Despite decades of efforts to eradicate the virus in the country, this year alone 12 children have been paralysed which shows that much more needs to be done”, he stressed.
Replying to a question regarding the alarming rate of child mortality owing to insufficient immunisation in the country, the official said the WHO was placing routine immunisation on the main agenda for the RD’s visit to the country.
Dr Ala Alwan has replaced the longest serving RD for the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO) Dr Hussian A Gezairy, who had served the organisation for over three decades. “He has chosen Pakistan for his first trip due to its critical importance with regards to polio eradication, other emergencies and health issues,” the source in WHO Pakistan, said.
“It will be interesting to know what reasons are shared for the country’s poor performance with regards to the implementation of the National Emergency Action Plan on Polio”. Dr Alwan will arrive in Karachi for a three-day visit starting from the 19th of March and leave on the 22nd from Islamabad.
