Initially Polio was encapsulated within the EPI service programme of PRCS whereby vaccinations were administered for Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus (DPT), Measles, Tuberculosis and Polio from the MCH, Maternity and Child Health (fixed) centres. This not only restricted the effectiveness scale of protection against the virus but also limited coverage to only those infants who visited these centres. The eradication of Polio can be seen as an achievable objective only if every child in the country is protected; as one infected child alone may in turn carry the virus to 1000 infants. Thus the limiting factor contributed to a lag in efficiency of PRCS in the area of Polio Eradication; a national campaign started by the Government in 1994. Locating and reaching children who cannot/ do not come to us requires extraordinary effort. Pakistan has seen a great deal of progress in the fight against polio since the campaign started in 1994. To accomplish this, the World Health Organisation has changed its vaccination strategy and are going door to door in every home in the country as a part of the campaign to try and vaccinate every child.

In 1999 the nation had 584 confirmed cases of polio which dropped to 150 (approx.) by the year 2000.The same year PRCS saw the inception of a distinctly separate Polio Project, with adequate independent maneuverability funded by the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The idea was a more mobile unit unhindered by fixed centre constraints, coinciding their immunization routines with the National Immunization Days. In 2001 the campaign was scaled up by PRCS in all the Provinces with close collaboration of IFRC and WHO. Coordination efforts between World Health Organisation, UNICEF, the Health Ministry, Basic Health Units and Mobile Health Units multiplied. A workshop was organized specifically to work on further enhancement of awareness and activation of the Polio Plan. This workshop was facilitated by Jamila Ibrohim (Asian Health Delegate), Dr. Amir (from IFRC), WHO, UNICEF and Health Ministry Members. The Polio Coordinator who is also a member of the Steering Committee is involved in organizing pre Polio, Polio and post Polio campaigns. The frequency of Polio visits has been increased and intervals reduced. In 2001, 20 cases of Polio were confirmed in Baluchistan ( 8 cases in Quetta),25 cases registered in Sindh,18 in Punjab and 22 in NWFP ( 4 cases in the Peshawar District). In the National Immunization Days of 2001 90% coverage in the District of Peshawar was achieved. 1450 Mobile Teams and 90 Fixed Teams participated to make it a very successful campaign.

Medium to hard accessibility areas, such as the far-flung areas of Sindh, the Refugee camps at Kacha Ghari, Shamshatoo, Old and New Jalozai Camps and were also covered (the population of these camps has become double after the new crisis in Afghanistan). The newly migrated Afghan Refugees, pose the greatest challenge for us in accomplishing our Polio Eradication Objective. PRCS is planning to launch a vaccination campaign specifically targeting these Refugees to safeguard their children against the Polio Virus. Meetings with Masjid Imams, Maliks, Afghan Doctors and Afghan teachers have already been held and they have been successfully motivated for the Pre Polio campaign.

In last NIDs the PRCS assisted the WHO (World Health Organization) and worked together in Pre Polio Campaign as well as in the Polio days. PRCS provided maximum support to WHO through volunteers, logistic support, banners in the languages locally understood i.e. in Pushto and Persian.In 2001, 2 lakh and 30 thousand (230,000) children were administered drops.

Pakistan is stepping up efforts by holding more than one campaign a year. The only way for this to be successful, is to gain the cooperation and involvement of every citizen of Pakistan. Your children are born free, do not subject them to a lifetime of imprisonment by carelessness on your part. Protect your children against polio*.