Polio Eradication News

[Haris]

JALALABAD (PAN): A three-day polio eradication campaign aimed at
722,000 children under five years of age got under way in eastern
provinces on Sunday, officials said.

The campaign is an initiative of the Ministry of Public Health in eastern
Kunar, Nuristan, Laghman and Nangarhar provinces, the director of public
health department in Nangarhar, Dr. Baz Mohammad Sherzad, told Pajhwok
Afghan News.

He said there were no obstacles to the campaign even in the remote areas
of the provinces.

Up to 5,250 workers and volunteers will administer the polio vaccine during
the campaign, which will give families an opportunity to get their children
vaccinated in the four provinces, Dr. Abdul Salam Rasuli, the head of the
campaign, said.

Last year, nine cases of polio were reported across Afghanistan, eight of
them in Kandahar and Helmand and another in Farah.

Polio vaccination drive begins in east | Pajhwok Afghan News

[Laila]

I am very pleased to hear this. It would be essential for a malaria vaccine to also take place

[afgpower]

good

[Shayesta]

Great news! Aren't the Northern areas getting this treatment as well?

[Akherousin]

It's definitely ridiculous that this disease hasn't been eradicated already. Here's to hoping polio will go the way of smallpox.

[Haris]

MoPH: Polio falls by 34%

MoPH claims 34pc decrease
in polio cases


KABUL: Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has asserted that 34% reduce in
polio cases in the country, compared to 2009.

38 polio cases were reported in 2009 across the country in which most of
them were in south zone, so that figure was dropped to 25 cases in 2010
that shows dramatically reduce of the cases, said acting Minister of Public
Health, Dr. Suraya Dalil at the press conference.

“The extension of health services and launching of polio vaccinations drive
on time in all parts of the country were the main reasons behind the
dropping of polio cases,” she added.

The Director of World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations
Children's Fund (UNICEF) have sent a letter and thanked the Afghan
President, Hamid Karzai’s government for this remarkable achievement in
elimination drive of polio.

Two kinds of deadly polio viruses have not been seen since last 14 months
and now most parts the country are free of abovementioned viruses, letter
added.

Much works have been needed to implement polio vaccinations’ campaigns
in those areas where the deadly polio viruses still threats children’s health
due to insecurity especially in Kandahar, Helmand and Farah provinces.
WHO and UNICEF have raised voice of long-term cooperation with Afghan
government in this connection.

[Laila]

This is good news. Wasnt there a vaccination drive for polio in the East recently? I believe i read that here somewhere. But yeah from my knowledge, polio is a high risk in the Southern areas, as mentioned. Its good to hear the virus has decreased from 2 years ago.

[Haris]

Yes that is correct, here is the thread: http://www.pashtunforums.com/develop...ve-east-18987/


InshaAllah this disease will soon be eradicated from Afghanistan just as it has been in virtually the rest of the world.

[Laila]

^ oh okay i knew it.

I am hoping malaria is next on the list, the virus is high in places of the south and east.

[graveyardofempires]

This is good news. Wasnt there a vaccination drive for polio in the East recently? I believe i read that here somewhere. But yeah from my knowledge, polio is a high risk in the Southern areas, as mentioned. Its good to hear the virus has decreased from 2 years ago.

have you ever seen cases of polio in the east(afg)?

i havent overall people are crippled by landmines,shooting or bombings and not polio.

[Laila]

have you ever seen cases of polio in the east(afg)?

i havent overall people are crippled by landmines,shooting or bombings and not polio.

Wrora, polio virus is very well spread in the East and South and its a cruel disease.

I know people are affected by landmines, shooting, and such. But if you have a sickness that can be controlled while its killing hundreds a year especially children under 5, then why not do something about it.

----

Overall these vaccination drives that are going around from the Public Health Ministry is really helping out. Hopefully it continues all throughout the country.

[Haris]

KABUL: 13 cases of polio have been reported in Afghanistan so far in 2011, which
shows a dramatic decrease over the same period of last year, officials said on
Wednesday.


Much progress has been made towards eradicating polio in Afghanistan. There have
been 13 polio cases recorded from only seven districts of Kandahar, Helmand and
Farah provinces, said a statement of Ministry of Public Health (MoPH)
“No cases have been reported from elsewhere in the country, including from the
Eastern and North Eastern region, which are considered to be particularly prone to
polio,” MoPH added.


MoPH, with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United
Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has launched intensified efforts to wipe out polio
from the country by the end of 2012. For reaching to this goal, it necessary to focus
on the Southern Region in particularly, where the polio virus continues to circulate.


The efforts in Afghanistan are part of a global effort to achieve the complete
eradication of polio. Afghanistan is one of only four countries where the disease is still
endemic. It is more important than ever to renew our focus on finding the best ways
to use our collective resources to rid ourselves of this crippling and rare-fatal disease.


While this is good news, it is essential to remain vigilant and continue to ensure full
coverage of all immunization activities, as partially vaccinated and unvaccinated
groups are at high risk. Focusing on the southern region involves concerted efforts to
improve access to all children in conflict affected areas, because they have difficulties
in achieving such access. Priority is also given to immunization activities in boharder
regions in Southern and Eastern regions where there is free movement between
Pakistan – another endemic country - and Afghanistan include boarder coordination
between Afghanistan and Pakistan also, in order to control transition.


Low routine immunization coverage is one of the reasons the virus continues to
circulate in the country, and in addition to their regular, intensive polio campaigns,
MoPH, UNICEF,WHO and multiple technical partners are investing heavily in improving
routine immunization coverage in the country. Promoting and implementing routine
immunization of all newborns, infants and pregnant mothers is one of the four main
strategies for Polio eradication, with a particular focus on newborns, who are at the
greatest risk of contracting the virus.


In addition, as an important complement to the current routine immunization program,
the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) has provided conditional
approval of support for the introduction of Pneumococcal Pneumonia vaccine by
January 2013. The MoPH is starting preparation for the introductions of this new
vaccine, which will be able, immunize the children significantly and will decrease the
high rates of infants and children mortality caused by pneumonia.


With the goal of ending the circulation of the disease within sight, the period between
now and the end of 2012 marks the vital, final stage of the polio eradication initiative
in Afghanistan. Independent and international bodies are providing crucially needed
evaluations and reviews, helping to ensure that the polio eradication initiative in
Afghanistan will continue to be well coordinated and that targeted programs ill
expedite the eradication of the disease. Continued and concentrated efforts by the
government, partners, donors and communities themselves are needed to ensure that
no child will henceforth suffer from this disease. We look forward to working together
to see the realization of this goal through our collective efforts.

[Haris]

Efforts For Complete Elimination Of
Polio To Be Continued

Addressing his bi-weekly radio address President Karzai said that as a result of efforts
by the public health organs of the country and cooperation of the WHO polio diseases
is on the verg of elimination in our country, while only reports indicate some cases in
Kandahar, Helmand and Farah provinces where 13 cases of polio have been recorded.

However, we are decisive that to continue efforts for complete eradication of the
disease from the country. The president added that polio is a dangerous disease for
the children and fortunately this disease has its treatment initially. In case the parent
take care of their children and vaccine their children against the five killing diseases
their children will become healthy.

He stressed that from the 26 to 28th of Sunbula polio vaccination will start
throughout Afghanistan and volunteer individuals will visit the remotest parts of the
country to vaccinate the children under five years. During this two-day campaign in
addition to polio vaccines to the children under 2 and 5 years deworming tablets for
intestine worms will also be given to eliminate the danger for developing of worms
within the children intestine. The president once again asked the armed opposition not
to prevent applying of polio vaccines to the children and allow the health workers to
go the remotest parts of the country and apply the vaccines.

He also asked the elders, religious ulema of Farah, Helmand and Kandahar to facilitate
application of polio vaccines in their localities by using their influence.



Bakhtar News Agency - President Karzai Says Efforts For Complete Elimination Of Polio To Be Continued

[Haris]

Majority Of Regions In
Afghanistan Declared As
Polio-free Areas: UNICEF



Chairman of WHO and Head of UNICEF by dispatching letters to President Hamid Karzai
thanked the Afghanistan government related organs for their efforts towards
elimination of polio in most regions of the country.

The letter also thanks the President of Afghanistan and acting minister of public
health for direct supervision of the activities for elimination of polio in Afghanistan,
adding two types of polio viruses have not seen in Afghanistan in the last 14 months
and as a result of persistent efforts of the government of Afghanistan a 34%
reduction is seen in polio occurrences in 2011 compared to 2009 and now most parts
of the country have become polio-free zones.

The letter also indicates that there is need for cooperation of Afghan related organs
for implementation of insecure regions in the country, while WHO and UNICEF will
remain committed toward assisting the Afghan government in this respect.

Reciprocating his appreciation by sending a letter to the WHO and Chairman of UNICEF
President Karzai has stressed that your agencies cooperation has its close effect on
efforts of Afghanistan in elimination of polio as well.


Bakhtar News Agency - Majority Of Regions In Afghanistan Declared As Polio-free Areas: UNICEF


-----


President Karzai Opens
Autumn Polio Campaign



President Hamid Karzai opened nationwide polio campaign yesterday by dropping
vaccine in the mouth of some children. At the function held at the Presidential Palace,
Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi Speaker of the House of People, Dr. Soraya Dalil acting minister of
public health, Dr. Hussain Aljazaeri Head of the Mediterranean WHO branch, head of
the departments and representatives of the World Bank, USAID, EC, UNICEF, JICA and
UNFP also attended.

The president by dropping vaccine in the mouth of some children opened the autumn
campaign of polio of 1390. The first round of the nationwide autumn polio campaign of
1390 will start from the 26 and end on 28 Sunbula for three days and it aims at
implementation of two drops of polio vaccine to the 7.8 million children under five
years and alongside this execution of albendazole tablets for 4.6 million child under the
ages of 2 to five years.

The president called the campaign as very important and asked the countrymen to
cooperate with the in charges and volunteers, and this save their children from
affliction of this dangerous disease. He also appreciated the cooperation of the
international organizations in this respect.

The president in his address three days back on the graduation ceremony of students
from the national institute of management, mentioned the reliable foundations of the
UN which has thanked the government of Afghanistan for its efforts towards
eradication of polio, and stressed that due to insecurity and Taliban attacks in three
provinces of Kandahar, Helmand and Farah, polio cases have been seen.

He added that this cruelty against the Muslims and an act against humanity and that
the opposition should not prevent implementation of polio vaccines to the children and
align themselves with the progress of the nation. Dr. Soraya Dalil acting minister of
public health said that around 26 volunteers and health workers have got training for
implementation of the polio campaign and she asked all the governors, district
administrators, mayors, police commanders, in charges of the highways, especially the
religious leaders, influential and elders as well as from the households to cooperate
with the campaign team in the specified dates.


Bakhtar News Agency - President Karzai Opens Autumn Polio Campaign