Independent Monitoring Board - Global Polio Eradication Initiative

AT A GLANCEMotivation is vital to maintaining momentum. The IMB has heard increasingmention of the real polio heroes of Pakistan: the vaccinators and social mobilisersthat go from house to house, street to street, campaign after campaign. This isencouraging and must continue. A country can be measured by how it treats itsheroes. Progress is being made, but further efforts are required to make the job ofvaccinator and social mobiliser more attractive. Payment is one important aspect ofthis. The country has been talking about direct payment mechanisms for some timenow; these must be widely and rapidly implemented.Polio heroes must be betterrewardedWe welcome the Programme’s focus on its polio sanctuaries. There is alwaysan inherent tension in this. The Programme must not become blinkered tovulnerabilities elsewhere in the country. The IMB heard of worrying results fromenvironmental surveillance across Pakistan including in Lahore, Punjab. It is clearthe virus is circulating widely. The Programme must not allow new sanctuaries tosprout.The Programme must not dropits guard elsewhere in thecountryThe Pakistan Programme has re-joined the road to stopping polio transmission.There are still many challenging kilometres ahead. If it can sustain its currentintensity of will and rigour of approach, this programme appears increasingly wellplaced to reach the end.Pakistan has much improvedits performance – theimprovement must continue40Independent Monitoring Board of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative Every Missed Child