2014-04-18
Situation Survey on Polio Eradication Activity in Pakistan

 

AMDA started a situation survey on Polio eradication activity in Pakistan since September, 2013 with Chigasaki Chuo Rotary Club, which have been the supporter for polio eradication.

For the first survey in September, AMDA staff visited Thatta District in the Sindh Province of Pakistan located approximately 100km east from Karachi, the major city in Southern Pakistan, with the support from a local NGO NRSP(National Rural Support Programme) and collected information on polio campaign.

After hearing from officials and local NGO staff involved in Polio eradication activities, it turned out that Polio immunization coverage has not reached 100%, and the part of the reason is due to lack of Lady Health Workers who function as similar to community health visiting nurse. Lectures by religious leaders, educational sessions and monitoring on polio eradication activities were some good practice of the activities implemented in Thatta District.

From January 20th to 24th, three Chigasaki Chuo Rotary Club members, AMDA group president, and AMDA staff from Japan visited Pakistan to collect further information on Polio eradication activities. The group visited the Embassy of Japan in Islamabad, Prime Minister's office, local NGO NRSP office and they were able to obtain information on current Polio situation, challenges towards eradication and plans from government and international organization officials, NGO staff, and local staff. Many of Polio cases reported in the area facing national border in west side such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, FATA, and Balochistan. However, it is challenging to immunize children in those areas due to security reasons. Thus, immunizing all children passing the major transit points have been enforced to prevent polio to be spread out in different areas.

 

Now, AMDA in partnership with Chigasaki Chuo Rotary Club and NRSP is planning "Family Health Education Program" involving the entire community not only educating on Polio but also on other health topics to disseminate proper knowledge for preventing families from common diseases.

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