Pakistan National PolioPlus Newsletter

polio+polio+Volume: II/MMXII - Issue No. 06

June 2012

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira signing our mission Polio Free Pakistan in Islamabad on June 4,2012.

Let us ensure every child is immunized.Let us commit to a Polio Free Pakistan

NIDs onJuly 16-18’2012

Dear Rotaians,

Currently, in 2012 by June 8th, there are 21 polio cases reported from 13 infected districts (18 type-1, 2 type-3 and 1 mixture of 1 type- 3).

10 cases from FATA (8 from Khyber agency and one each from South and North Wazirstan Agencies); 4 cases from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (one each from Peshawar, Lakki Marwat, DI Khan and Kohat); 3 from Sindh (one each from Mirpurkhas, Larkana & Hyderabad); 2 from Punjab (Jhang and Rajanpur); and 2 from district Quetta in Balochistan.

At the same time, last year in 2011, there were 49 polio cases in 23 districts reported. All cases were Type 1. FATA 18; KP 5; Sindh 12; Balochistan 13 andGilgit Balistan 1.

Khyber Agency is the only tribal agency/ district in the country (and in the Asian Continent) having both WPV1 and WPV3 circulation in 2012.

The continued outbreak of polio in Khyber Agency since the last three years, indicate clusters of children within the region, either un immunized or under immunized; large scale population movement from these districts constitute a great risk to the country within and outside. Polio free districts and towns can be endangered with frequent movements of families in search of safe havens.

Prioritizing the existing situation, the political Administration of Khyber Agency has hired 30 local residents for special training to immunize the maximum number of children in the agency. Specific immunization campaigns are being implemented in Bara and Tirah areas; oral polio vaccine has been provided to all clinics operating in the agency; the administration is taking immediate steps by involving community members, Ulema’s and the military to stop transmission of the polio virus.

There is a need to seriously review transit / migrant population on the move. Rotary has installed two mobileclinics at the entry and exit check posts (Toll Plaza) connecting Karachi to other parts of Sindh.

Monitoring High Risk Districts with community assistance would enable us to identify missed children. The Chief Coordinator Sindh, PP Masood Bhalli in continuation with random surveys of high risk areas, conducted a survey with 30 teams on June 8th (post SNIDs) in Pakhtunabad, Sultanabad and Manghopir UC 8of Gadap from 11 am to 8 pm; surveying 1370 low income shelters, checking 7000 children, of which only 4 were found unvaccinated.

I urge Chief Coordinator of all Province to garner support from the community and conduct similar random surveys in Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The World Health Assembly declared polio eradication to be “a programmatic emergency for globalpublic health,”

There is a dire need for Rotarians to form Think Tanks in their respective regions; to brainstorm actions and outcomes; to come up with new strategies to override the challenges.

It is not over until; every last child is free from this scourge; until we seriously commit to eradicate polio and until every Rotarian comes forward to volunteer their service Let us work towards a Polio Free Pakistan.

Aziz MemonChairmanPakistan National Polio Plus Committee

RI President Kalyan Banerjee and his spouse Binota honoured Pakistan by their visit to meet with Rotarians of District 3271 and 3272. The RIP also met with the Focal Person of the Prime Ministers Polio Task Force Committee and  Global Partners in the Polio Eradication Initiative. Excerpts from his speech on polio at the RI District 3271 Governor’s Dinner – A Grand Fund Raiser, the President stressed on ‘We are working together to change the world of ours from one with Polio to one without Polio. He also said that India is now Polio free and if it can be done in India then it can be done in Pakistan which is on the right track. He said there is no other joy like the joy of giving’.

RI President Kalyan Banerjee visits Pakistan

Parliamentarians supported a  polio camp on June 04 and a polio symbolic walk by disabled children on June 06'2012, organized by the Prime Minister's Polio Monitoring and Coordination Cell, PM's Secretariat. Rotary's Pakistan National Polio Plus Committee sponsored banners for both events. All stakeholders endorsed their commitment to the cause of a Polio Free Pakistan. In the previous meeting of the Task Force committee, the PM while lauding the role played by Parliamentarians, called for proactive leadership, active public participation, enhanced community mobilization and media engagement.  Some 150 parliamentarians signed the banner at the Parliament House in Islamabad, inaugurating the June4 - 6 SNIDs, by expressing their support and commitment to ‘Our Mission: Polio Free Pakistan'. The banner was placed at Gate 1, which is right after the security clearance counter, where the parliamentarians speak to the media. PNPPC also provided polio mobilization material in the form of T shirts and caps for the parliamentarians to wear. A polio camp was put up within the grounds of the Parliament House, where Rotary sun umbrellas provided protection for the vaccinating staff. On June 06'2012 a symbolic walk was organized for disable children in collaboration with all partners, Rotary International, UNICEF, WHO and especial education department and the PM's polio monitoring cell. The walk

Our Mission- Polio Free PakistanReport by: Alina A. Visram, Chief Editor Polio+

started at the Shaheed e Millat Chowk and concluded at the area near D chowk. Participants included disabled children, parliamentarians, Rotarians, Polio partners and media, who sported Polio Free Pakistan T-shirts andRotary caps. A refreshment stall was put up along the route of the walk. IEC handouts were distributed duringthe walk. A short musical program was arranged for the children to make the evening a festive one. The programconcluded at 7.30.  Some of the parliamentarians who accompanied children on the walk included well known artist Areib Azharwho performed for the disabled children. Parliamentarians included: Begum Shahnaz Wazir Ali (Focal Person on PM's Task Force Committee),  Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani (Federal Minister),  Makhdoom Shahabuddin (Federal Minister), Ms. Samina Khalid Ghurki (Federal Minister);  Mr. Changez Khan Jamali (Federal Minister), Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuo (member, President's Oversight Committee),  Dr. Nafisa Shah, Dr. Attiya Inayatullah, Senator Rubina Khalid, Mr. Lal Chand, Mr. Mahesh Kumar  Mr. Akhondzada Chitan and many others, including the renowned artist Areib Azhar who entertained the children with his performance. The credit for coordinating both events goes to Ms. Wajiha Kanwal, Advocacy Consultant (Parliamentarians), Prime Minister's Polio Monitoring and Coordination Cell, Prime Minister's Secretariat, Islamabad. 

School children in Digri support Polio NIDsReport by: Ashok Kumar Maheshwari, Secretary

assembly, which was attended by the principal and teachers. Polio drops were also administered to children under five. The Mak school principal, teachers, medical staff appreciated the information and awareness by RC Digri club members.

Members of the Rotary Club Digri visited the Mak Primary School to educate children and distribute poliosocial mobilization items like badges, pencils, pens,story books and caps to the students. The childrenwere told about the consequences of polio at the

The Pakistan National Polio Plus Committee has installed two 20 FCL containers, which have been converted into mobile clinics for polio immunization - at exit and entry points connecting Karachi with other districts in Sindh. The Polio Transit Vaccination Post (PTVP) works with 3 teams, each team working consist of 4 members working an 8 hour shift. The teams man the check post round the clock, 7 days a week. The teams are supervised by WHO Area In charge (AIC) EPI program and the children areadministered bOPV irrespective of the status of the child.

Daewoo, local buses and coaches with passengers travelling North from Karachi or returning South from Punjab, KP or FATA and the Afghan border, have to get their young children under five vaccinated. The unconditional cooperation and support of the Motorway Police and

Permanent Vaccination Sites at Toll PlazaReport by: Alina A. Visram, Chief Editor Polio+

Pakistan Rangers is very instrumental for vaccinations teams entering public vehicles and Pushtun speaking families putting up resistance. The PTVP vaccinates on any given day approximately 1400 children entering and leaving Karachi.

it to others and be the beacon of light for other students. President Shumaila Zahidi - RC Karachi Creek, PP Tahira Khan, Assistant Professor and Secretary of RC Creekand Media Coordinator Karachi PNPPC  PP Jamsheed Zahidi were key organizers. Salar Khoso the voice ofDo Boondh entertained the audience with his performance after the contest.

Rotaract Club Greenwich Creek and Rotary Club of Karachi Creek hosted an elocution contest for the Greenwich University students. The winner was awarded a trophy by the Chief Guest, Chair Aziz Memon, Pakistan National Polio Plus Committee who motivated students to come forward and take part in more contests to enhance oratory skills, gain knowledge on Rotary and spread

Elocution contest on 'Role of Rotary in Polio Eradication

Special coverage by Nawa e Waqt newspaper and Waqt News TV channel was given to a polio awareness program at the Vision School in Mirpurkhas organized by Rotary Club of Mirpurkhas. PP Moin Qaiser was Chief Guest and  PDG S.A. Khan, PP Jawaid Barbar, PP Zamir Ansari, the School Administrator Faizan

Qureishi spoke to the children on polio. The media highlighted the work of RC Mirpurkhas in their mission to eradicate polio from Pakistan. Children were happy to receive social mobilization material and the Principal and teachers of the school appreciated Rotary's efforts to spread polio awareness.

Media in Mirpurkhas highlights polio activitiesReport by: PP Jawaid Babar, RC Mirpurkhas, Media Coordinator, PNPPC

Assembly Baluchistan, Rtn Jamil Awan President RC Quetta Bolan, Rtn Agha Sher Ali Member RC Quetta Bolan, Rtn Ayaz Mehmood President Elect RC Quetta Bolan, Muhammad Naved Rotract, Dr. Saleem Baloch DHO Quetta, Dr. Yosuf Bezinjo EPI Provincial Head Baluchistan, Zia-Ur-Rahman District Communication Officer UNICEF & Field Staff, WHO District Coordinator & Field Staff and Media Persons all participated in the walk to support the cause of a 'Polio Free Pakistan.'.

A Polio Awareness walk at 4.00 pm on June 1st 2012 from the Metropolitan Corporation Quetta was organizaedin collaboration with all the Polio Partners i.e UNICEF, WHO, Rotary, EPI, Health Department & District Administration of Quetta.

Mr. Hashim Ghalzai, Deputy Commissioner Quetta, Mr. Tariq Mangle Assistant Deputy Commissioner & District Focal Person for Polio, Ms. Sobia Kabzai Member Provincial

Polio walk in QuettaReport by: Report by: PP Mirza Muhammed Abbas, RC Quetta Bolan, Member PNPPC

RC Hyderabad supplied 3200 Packets of Lemo Pani to 805 teams of Health workers who were part of the SNIDs from4 - 6 June 2012. The vaccination teams travel in this heat on a door to door campaign to vaccinate children. The lemo pani will provide respite and keep the teams hydrated. The saches were handed over to Representatives of Health Authorities Hyderabad for onward distribution to health workers. Present on the occasion were Dr.Qaiser Kaimkhani and Dr Ashraf Memon from the Health Department who thanked President Altaf Memon - RC Hyderabad, PP Dost Muhammad Baloch, PP Darshan Lal Nankan, Dr Suneeta Nankani, PP Anwar Shaikhand PP Dr. Pardeep Kumar for Rotary's noble gesture. 

Rotary provides respite to vaccination teams in HyderabadReport by: PP Dr.Pardeep Kumar, RC Hyderabad

The Satellite Town Market in Gujranwala has a new permanent billboard to target the masses on polio eradication. Efforts to install this billboard is credited to AG/PP Sajid Pervez Bhatti - RC Ruryila and memberof the PNPPC who took permission from theDC Gujranwalla to allow this billboard to be placed in the busy market area.

Billboard in busy market centre gets people's attention

Hockey Tournament to ' hit polio out' of PakistanReport by: IPDG Shehzad Ahmed - RC Lahore Garrison

importance of polio eradication after each match. Past Presidents Rotary Club Mubasher Butt and M Iqbal Malik were the chief guests of the semi-finals. Lt Gen Ch Sardar Ali, Col Nawab Ali and Mukhtar Ahmed graced the final. The tournament was organized by Rotary's Past District Governor Shehzad Ahmed and Paradise Coordinator Naeem Aslam under the arrangements of Paradise Hockey Club.

Paradise and Rotary Club of Lahore Garrison organized Fatima-Shah Muhammad Memorial Hockey Tournament at Chak 73/RB Karianwala, Faisalabad. Theme of the tournament was ‘Make Pakistan Polio Free; End Polio Now’. In all 28 teams participated in the event and Kanga, Ghona, Shahkot and Paradise teams won their respective semi-finals. During the event audience was informed about the

Aziz MemonChairman, Pakistan National Polio Plus Committee91 Shahrah-e-Iran, Clifton, Karachi 75600, Pakistan

Cell: +92 300 8259595, Off:+9221 35872368, 35867771-6Fax: +9221 35872364, 35870468eMail: azizkingtex@cyber.net.pk

Alina A. VisramChief Editor, Polio+

eMail: polioplus11@gmail.com

www.poliopluspakistan.org

Send club stories, queries and photographs by mail or eMail (high resolution digital images preferred). Photographs without supporting write-up will not be published. Circulation restricted

to Rotarians and concerned organizations only.

Toll Free Numbers - 0800 88588 & 0800 12012 Call to inform missed children in SNIDs and NIDs campaigns

appealed the community to help make history.  President Pirzada informed the participants of the walk, that Rotary International launched the global fight against polio in 1985 and since then, it has helped to immunize more than 2.5 billion children in the world. He said the number of polio cases worldwide has decreased from 350,000 in 1988 to less than 700 cases in 2011. Dr. M. Siddiq Soomro, Asst. Governor RID 3271 said "as a part of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative with UNICEF, WHO, CDC and the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Rotary International is very close to ending polio. Others who participated and spoke on the ocassion were: Dr. Salah Tumsah - WHO Team Leader Sindh, Dr. Hameed Memon - THO Bin Qasim Town, Mr. Mohd Ali Shah - Deputy Commissioner - Karachi, ADC Malir and political activists in the area.

Bin Qasim Town is one of polio's High Risk Districts, located 30 miles away from Karachi, close to the Steel Mills. The Rotary Club of Gulshan e Hadeed organized a polio walk in collaboration with the Bin Qasim Town Health Office (THO) and Muzamll School located at Pipri Shah Lateef Town. Hundreds of students, Lady Health Workers, community members, civil society activists, doctors of the Town, Rotarians and representatives of WHO, UNICEF as well as political workers supported the polio walk. PP Masood Ahmed Bhali - Sindh Chief Coordinator Polio Plus Committee said, "Eradicating polio means that no child ever again should have to suffer the crippling effects of this devastating disease" he said that the mission of Rotary is "Every child deserves to live in a world free from polio". The Club's President Pirzada Riaz - said "Rotary's 25+ years effort to rid the world of polio is 99% complete" he

Rotarians walk in polio High Risk DistrictReport by: Dr. Siddiq Soomro - RC Gulshan e Hadeed

Globally

* in endemic countries

* in non-endemic countries

71

68

3

195

64

131

650

341

309

Total Cases Year-to-date 2012 Year-to-date 2011 Total in 2011*

Polio endemic countries up-date: Afghanistan 8 and Nigeria 39. (as on June 08, 2012)

Global Update Source: www.polioeradication.org

FATA NSL 1NSL 3

NSL 1:3NSL 1NSL 1

4

3

521111111

111

3

NSL 1NSL 1NSL 1NSL 1

NSL 1NSL 1NSL 1

PeshawarLakki MarwatDI KhanKohat

Khyber

Waziristan SouthNorth Waziristan

MirpurkhasLarkanaHyderabad

10

4

3

1NSL 1 2Quetta 2

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Sindh

Balochistan

211

NSL 1NSL 1

JhangRajanpur

2Punjab

Province/Region District Name Type of Wild

PoliovirusNo.

CasesTotal

DistrictsTotalCase

21Pakistan 13

Polio cases in Pakistan Update

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Polio still cripples thousands of childrenaround the world. With your help, we can wipe

this disease off the face or the earth forever.Visit rotary.org/endpolio to help.

END POLIO NOW Rotary

to Ending Polio.

Aseefa Bhutto Zardari

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