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| Scientists urge extra security for health workers in polio endgame effort | Scientists urge extra security for health workers in polio endgame effort |
| (8 days later) | |
| Health workers vaccinating children against polio in troubled parts of Pakistan and Nigeria must have extra security to prevent any murders of volunteers derailing a new effort to eradicate the disease, experts say. | Health workers vaccinating children against polio in troubled parts of Pakistan and Nigeria must have extra security to prevent any murders of volunteers derailing a new effort to eradicate the disease, experts say. |
| The plan, launched by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative – comprising United Nations bodies, health organisations, Rotary International and governments – is a strategy for the polio endgame, envisaging a polio-free world in 2018. | The plan, launched by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative – comprising United Nations bodies, health organisations, Rotary International and governments – is a strategy for the polio endgame, envisaging a polio-free world in 2018. |
| Last year there were 223 cases of polio in the world, down 66% on the previous year. Only three countries now have endemic polio – Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria – but without tight control there is a danger that the disease will cross borders and spread again. | Last year there were 223 cases of polio in the world, down 66% on the previous year. Only three countries now have endemic polio – Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria – but without tight control there is a danger that the disease will cross borders and spread again. |
| Scientists in 80 countries, including Nobel laureates and the heads of public health institutions, have signed a declaration of support for the plan. Eradication of the disease is "an urgent and achievable global health priority", they say. | Scientists in 80 countries, including Nobel laureates and the heads of public health institutions, have signed a declaration of support for the plan. Eradication of the disease is "an urgent and achievable global health priority", they say. |
| They call on governments and all players in global health to do their part. Polio is highly infectious and spreads quickly. Scaling back, they say, would have devastating consequences. | They call on governments and all players in global health to do their part. Polio is highly infectious and spreads quickly. Scaling back, they say, would have devastating consequences. |
| But the deaths of volunteer vaccinators at the hands of militant Islamist groups in Pakistan last December and in Nigeria in February are widely seen as a setback to the eradication effort. | But the deaths of volunteer vaccinators at the hands of militant Islamist groups in Pakistan last December and in Nigeria in February are widely seen as a setback to the eradication effort. |
| The volunteers appear to have been targeted at least in part in response to the use by the CIA of fake vaccination scheme as a pretext for gathering information on the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. | The volunteers appear to have been targeted at least in part in response to the use by the CIA of fake vaccination scheme as a pretext for gathering information on the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. |
| The scientists in their declaration call for Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan and their partners "to strengthen security measures and deepen engagement with community and religious leaders to promote demand and protect vaccination teams and volunteers". | The scientists in their declaration call for Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan and their partners "to strengthen security measures and deepen engagement with community and religious leaders to promote demand and protect vaccination teams and volunteers". |
| One of their number, Professor Zulfiqar Bhutta, founding director of the centre of excellence in women and child health at Aga Khan University, which has sites in eight countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan and the UK, said he thought talks with the insurgents would be necessary among other tactics. | One of their number, Professor Zulfiqar Bhutta, founding director of the centre of excellence in women and child health at Aga Khan University, which has sites in eight countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan and the UK, said he thought talks with the insurgents would be necessary among other tactics. |
| "Pragmatically what is needed is a combination of measures including intelligent provision of security to polio teams in high-risk areas, community engagement and contextually relevant approaches to campaigns and integrating polio with other critically important health areas, especial for women and children," he said. "If needed, as I think it is, [there should be] negotiations with the insurgents to make progress." | "Pragmatically what is needed is a combination of measures including intelligent provision of security to polio teams in high-risk areas, community engagement and contextually relevant approaches to campaigns and integrating polio with other critically important health areas, especial for women and children," he said. "If needed, as I think it is, [there should be] negotiations with the insurgents to make progress." |
| The plan says that the current insecurity in Pakistan and Nigeria "has caused tragic losses and poses a new and real threat to the programme". But the leaders of all three endemic countries "remain fully committed, at all levels, to stop transmission of polio in their country and efforts are underway to address the security challenges". | The plan says that the current insecurity in Pakistan and Nigeria "has caused tragic losses and poses a new and real threat to the programme". But the leaders of all three endemic countries "remain fully committed, at all levels, to stop transmission of polio in their country and efforts are underway to address the security challenges". |
| In practical terms, short and low-profile vaccination campaigns will be held in insecure areas. Where necessary there will be requests for security "to improve the physical safety of vaccinators and facilities". | In practical terms, short and low-profile vaccination campaigns will be held in insecure areas. Where necessary there will be requests for security "to improve the physical safety of vaccinators and facilities". |
| Islamic leaders and institutions will be asked to step up their advocacy "to ensure all Muslims are aware of their obligation to ensure the vaccination/protection of children against polio, the sanctity of health workers and the neutrality of health services". There will also be increased vaccination in safer areas around the insecure ones and for those travelling through. | Islamic leaders and institutions will be asked to step up their advocacy "to ensure all Muslims are aware of their obligation to ensure the vaccination/protection of children against polio, the sanctity of health workers and the neutrality of health services". There will also be increased vaccination in safer areas around the insecure ones and for those travelling through. |
| An important part of the endgame strategy is the phasing out of the oral polio vaccine, which on rare occasions can itself cause polio cases. Eventually a new, inactivated polio vaccine will be phased in to all countries that are polio-free and will become part of their regular child immunisation programme. Strengthening routine child immunisation is one of the long-term legacy aims of the endgame plan. | An important part of the endgame strategy is the phasing out of the oral polio vaccine, which on rare occasions can itself cause polio cases. Eventually a new, inactivated polio vaccine will be phased in to all countries that are polio-free and will become part of their regular child immunisation programme. Strengthening routine child immunisation is one of the long-term legacy aims of the endgame plan. |
| The initiative says $5.5bn will be needed to end polio by 2018, not including money spent by India, which has not had a case now for two years and is regarded as a success story. Rotary International, which has provided a large proportion of the funds so far, donor governments and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation are expected to put in more money. | The initiative says $5.5bn will be needed to end polio by 2018, not including money spent by India, which has not had a case now for two years and is regarded as a success story. Rotary International, which has provided a large proportion of the funds so far, donor governments and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation are expected to put in more money. |
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