Dear Media Colleagues
On the occasion of Daniel Toole, UNICEF's Regional Director for South Asia, visit to Pakistan, UNICEF would like to highlight the need to urgently improve local polio response, vaccination outreach and management, and, importantly, accountability for results. This is critical in efforts by all partners to eradicate polio from Pakistan.
Please find below and attached a press release from UNICEF Pakistan. Your kind cooperation for the placement of the press release would be highly appreciated.
For more information and media assistance, please contact :
Kristen Elsby, Chief of Advocacy & Communication, UNICEF Pakistan
Tel. +92 300 500 2595
kelsby@unicef.org
Adnan Raja, Communication Specialist, UNICEF Pakistan
Tel. +92-342-547-9415
araja@unicef.org
(See attached file: Press Release - Regional Director visits Pakistan and reiterates need for eradicating polio - 20110808.doc)
PRESS RELEASE
Polio outbreak reaches 63 cases in Pakistan; eradication is possible with action and accountability at all levels
Islamabad, 8 August 2011 – With 63 new polio cases already reported in Pakistan in 2011, this country could potentially be the last polio reservoir worldwide, standing in the way of global polio eradication, unless progress is accelerated.
Daniel Toole, UNICEF's Regional Director for South Asia, is in Pakistan to meet with senior government and UN officials. He reiterated UNICEF's commitment to the eradication of polio and emphasized the need to urgently improve local polio response, vaccination outreach and management, and, importantly, accountability for results.
"We must ensure access to all children as specified in the President's National Emergency Action Plan for Polio Eradication in Pakistan. We have a huge task ahead of us, and we must build on lessons learned and act now," Mr Toole said.
Since the beginning of the year, Pakistan has continued to see rising numbers of polio cases (63 in 2011, compared to 36 cases in the same period last year). Balochistan has now reported 22 polio cases this year, more than any other province or region in the country. The virus which circulated in the five high risk districts in Balochistan has now spread to districts previously not infected for the past five years, including Khuzdar, Noshki and Kholu. FATA has reported 20 cases, Sindh has 14, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has six, and Gilgit-Baltistan has one case. Punjab, with 60 per cent of Pakistan's population, has not reported any cases of polio in 2011 – this is a major accomplishment that must be sustained.
The National Emergency Action Plan launched by the President of Pakistan in January 2011 identified the need to improve the quality of implementation and programme management as key risks for polio virus transmission. UNICEF, along with other partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, including the World Health Organization, Rotary International, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has been actively supporting the government to increase awareness and knowledge about the disease that targets children.
Daniel Toole acknowledged that reaching every child with the two drops of polio vaccine is a challenge in Pakistan. He also emphasized that with firm commitment from local authorities, close follow-up, and by taking direct responsibility for reducing the number of polio cases, Pakistan can eradicate polio.
"The President's Emergency Action Plan is taking hold across the country," said Mr Toole. "It is now vital for leaders at Provincial, District and Union Councils to be fully accountable and implement the vision of the Government."
Eradicating polio from Pakistan depends on delivering oral polio vaccine to each and every child, including the most vulnerable and the hardest-to-reach. This massive undertaking can succeed, but only with the tireless efforts and commitment of the people of Pakistan. The next polio vaccination campaign will be held 19-21 September 2011, targeting 16.5 million children in the districts at highest risk for continued circulation of polio virus.
The spread of polio in Pakistan also affects Pakistani travellers, particular those going to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the hajj, who must now show proof of polio vaccination on entry.
-------------------------
Kristen Elsby
Chief of Advocacy & Communication
UNICEF Pakistan
90 Margalla Road, F8/2
Islamabad, Pakistan
Office: +92 51 209 7810
Blackberry/Mob: +92 300 500 2595
Alt Mob: +92 300 828 6304
Fax: +92 51 209 7799
E-mail: kelsby@unicef.org
Skype: esthetlil
www.unicef.org/pakistan
Islamabad, 8 August 2011 – With 63 new polio cases already reported in Pakistan in 2011, this country could potentially be the last polio reservoir worldwide, standing in the way of global polio eradication, unless progress is accelerated.
Daniel Toole, UNICEF's Regional Director for South Asia, is in Pakistan to meet with senior government and UN officials. He reiterated UNICEF's commitment to the eradication of polio and emphasized the need to urgently improve local polio response, vaccination outreach and management, and, importantly, accountability for results.
"We must ensure access to all children as specified in the President's National Emergency Action Plan for Polio Eradication in Pakistan. We have a huge task ahead of us, and we must build on lessons learned and act now," Mr Toole said.
Since the beginning of the year, Pakistan has continued to see rising numbers of polio cases (63 in 2011, compared to 36 cases in the same period last year). Balochistan has now reported 22 polio cases this year, more than any other province or region in the country. The virus which circulated in the five high risk districts in Balochistan has now spread to districts previously not infected for the past five years, including Khuzdar, Noshki and Kholu. FATA has reported 20 cases, Sindh has 14, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has six, and Gilgit-Baltistan has one case. Punjab, with 60 per cent of Pakistan's population, has not reported any cases of polio in 2011 – this is a major accomplishment that must be sustained.
The National Emergency Action Plan launched by the President of Pakistan in January 2011 identified the need to improve the quality of implementation and programme management as key risks for polio virus transmission. UNICEF, along with other partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, including the World Health Organization, Rotary International, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has been actively supporting the government to increase awareness and knowledge about the disease that targets children.
Daniel Toole acknowledged that reaching every child with the two drops of polio vaccine is a challenge in Pakistan. He also emphasized that with firm commitment from local authorities, close follow-up, and by taking direct responsibility for reducing the number of polio cases, Pakistan can eradicate polio.
"The President's Emergency Action Plan is taking hold across the country," said Mr Toole. "It is now vital for leaders at Provincial, District and Union Councils to be fully accountable and implement the vision of the Government."
Eradicating polio from Pakistan depends on delivering oral polio vaccine to each and every child, including the most vulnerable and the hardest-to-reach. This massive undertaking can succeed, but only with the tireless efforts and commitment of the people of Pakistan. The next polio vaccination campaign will be held 19-21 September 2011, targeting 16.5 million children in the districts at highest risk for continued circulation of polio virus.
The spread of polio in Pakistan also affects Pakistani travellers, particular those going to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the hajj, who must now show proof of polio vaccination on entry.
-------------------------
Kristen Elsby
Chief of Advocacy & Communication
UNICEF Pakistan
90 Margalla Road, F8/2
Islamabad, Pakistan
Office: +92 51 209 7810
Blackberry/Mob: +92 300 500 2595
Alt Mob: +92 300 828 6304
Fax: +92 51 209 7799
E-mail: kelsby@unicef.org
Skype: esthetlil
www.unicef.org/pakistan
__._,_.___
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Thanks a lot.
I. If you want to receive individual emails
II. Receive one mail with all activity in it
III. Do not want to receive any mail at all
Regards,
Tariq Khattak, Group Manager,
GSM = 0300-9599007 and 0333-9599007
+92-300-9599007 and +92-333-9599007
Tariqgulkhattak@gmail.com
Tariqgulkhattak@hotmail.com
REQUESTS:
1)Please directly contact sender for personal/individual correspondence.
2)Try to discuss issues that will catch attention of many readers.
3)Please avoid sending messages in any language other than English
4)Avoid sending messages addressed to many recipients.
5)Do not send messages aimed at personal publicity.
6)Please do not send personal/other links unless necessary.
7)The Group is not obliged to publish printed news,
very short/long comments and objectionable material.
8)Every mail cannot be published; it will overload Mailboxes
of our valued members.
9)Try to Disagree Without Being Disagreeable, Unsympathetic and/or Unpleasant.
x==x==x==x==x==x
Please note that,
It is a common platform for journalists and all others who are interested in knowing about the issues that are sometimes not reported. This group favours philosophy of progress, reform and the protection of civil liberties. Please share and educate others. The owners and managers of this site do not necessarily agree with any of the information. It is an open forum; everyone is allowed to share anything. Mails sent by members and non-members are subject to approval. However, we are not responsible in any way for the contents of mails / opinion sent by members. We do not guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. (Nor can print and electronic media). If you find content on this site which you feel is inappropriate or inaccurate, incomplete, or useless you are most welcome to report it or contradict it.
Thanks a lot.
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