ISLAMABAD: With the number of poliovirus cases rising, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has given a three-month deadline to demonstrate progress in controlling the virus, according to his focal person.

“The next few months are critical where we must focus on improving campaign quality, enhancing surveillance and stopping transmission,” PM’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq said on Thursday.

While addressing the staff at the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) for polio eradication, Ms Farooq said the programme has “done really well in the past” and emphasised on replicating the performance.

“[W]e have come really close to polio eradication. I have no doubt that we have a team in place that can get the job done,” said the PM’s focal person who was appointed to the position earlier this week.

She added that the prime minister would be regularly briefed on the polio programme with continuous monitoring of vaccination campaigns and other activities at the NEOC.

In her remarks, Ms Farooq said the PM was very concerned about the increase in the number of poliovirus detections and has entrusted her with a huge responsibility to ensure positive and sustained progress.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2024