Summary Report on the Technical Advisory Group Meeting on Poliomyelitis Eradication for Pakistan [June 2015]

"...[M]ass media, branding and programme communication activities should reinforce, not distract from, improved operational performance of vaccinators...""

This is one recommendation shared in a report from the Pakistan Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on Poliomyelitis Eradication, which met in Islamabad from June 4-5 2015. The TAG meeting occurred at a time when, globally, of the 26 cases of wild poliovirus (WPV) reported in 2015, 24 (92%) were reported in Pakistan. Fortunately, the security situation in Pakistan continues to improve and is gradually allowing the polio eradication programme to reach more of the persistently missed children. In this context, the objectives of the meeting were to assess the efforts made by the Pakistan programme towards the eradication of polio during the low transmission season 2014/2015 and the plan of work for the remaining months of 2015 and the beginning of 2016 and to identify gaps and develop technical consensus on the mechanisms for overcoming the remaining challenges to the eradication effort.

Several communication strategies have been noted as contributing to some successful approaches, such as the female community volunteer initiative in Karachi and the engagement of the Punjab provincial government toward not only polio eradication activities but the improvement of child immunisation in general. Along the lines of collaboration and partnership: "The progress made towards the realization of strong emergency operations centres at national and provincial levels is encouraging. The TAG emphasizes that such strong coordination mechanisms are essential to the full implementation of the National Emergency Action Plan at all levels."

Amongst the recommendations offered in the document, the TAG suggests that the polio eradication programme ensure that communication resources be primarily focused on preparing for immunisation campaigns that will commence in September 2015. To accomplish this, the TAG recommends that a clear plan be made available outlining the roles and activities of all communications and social mobilisation units (COMNet, female community volunteers, and other health workers) in supporting frontline workers during the preparatory (end of September) and the deployment (September 2015 to May 2016) phases. The TAG recommends that the communication plan include clear measurable strategies to support localised, community-led recruitment of vaccinators, with enhancement of this process via vaccinator training. It is suggested that feedback on post-campaign community perceptions be incorporated into fast programme course correction if and/or where required.

With regard to other communication-related suggestions, the TAG urges speedy implementation of recommendations from Pakistan-Afghanistan cross-border meetings, described here as critical to the successful eradication of polio in both countries. "In particular, the TAG recommends that at least one regional/provincial cross-border meeting be held by August 2015 and that the programmes of the two countries develop a mechanism for monitoring and reporting the implementation of agreed actions to the national oversight bodies and to the TAG."

Click here for the 24-page report in PDF format.