F.P. Report
PESHAWAR: An orientation workshop for the journalists was held wherein technical experts enlightened the participants on updated status of polio in the province, remaining challenges, way forward and asked media to help raise the awareness level of the parents so that they demand for vaccination.
Coordinator Emergency Operations Center Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Atif Rehman, Technical Focal Person BMGF Dr Imtiaz Ali Shah, UNICEF Team Leader Dr Joahar, Provincial Polio Eradication Officer WHO Dr Illaudin, Media Specialist UNICEF Saeed Ahmed and communication experts were present on the occasion.
The workshop was held at district Haripur in a local hotel where more than 30 journalists participate and share their experience and suggestion to more strengthen the polio vaccination program.
Coordinator EOC Atif Rehman welcomed the media persons in the workshop and spoke at length about the establishment of EOCs, objectives and output.
He said that EOC has provided a platform to the government and all the technical partners to pool their efforts for polio eradication identify issues and strategize accordingly.
World Health Organization Provincial Polio Eradication Officer Dr Ilaudin gave detailed presentation on oral polio vaccine, IPV, significance of repeated vaccination, virus transmission and environmental sites.
He asked media persons to play role in ridding the country of the menace of polio and spread the message of “two drops of polio every time” in every nook and corner of the region.
Communication Expert Ejazur Rehman dilated on role of media in effective engagement of community that was the ultimate custodian of the children.
He said that unless community accept and understand the message all the efforts will be useless and will not bring the desired results.
Saeed Ahmed, Media Expert from UNICEF spoke on media management, expectations and support by the national and provincial EOCs.
Dr. Johar from UNICEF said that that the recent case in Lakki Marwat as the child was not crippled because of the continuous vaccination and it shows the efforts of polio workers and polio program and a case of inspiration for all of us.
He further informed that polio program has been added in the routine immunization campaign, adding that the most reservoirs for polio is district Peshawar and that’s why they were focusing on vaccination and missed children.
On a question that why only polio was important from other disease asked by a journalist, Dr. Johar said that polio virus can be transmitted to everywhere and the international community funding and demanding us to eradicate polio because they wants to protect their children from polio disease.
He further added that with the efforts of Sehat Muhafiz team and all those working on polio now polio disease will be eradicated soon from the country and there would be no compromise on polio as we all jointly work together for the eradication of polio and to save the future of our next generation.
