RAWALPINDI, May 15: An international delegation led by Dr Richard Franka from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) visited the District Health Authority (DHA) Rawalpindi the other day to review strategies for the ongoing polio eradication campaign.
The visit aimed at assessing field operations, surveillance mechanisms and the effectiveness of immunization strategies being implemented in the district.
Dr Richard Franka, serving as technical team lead, provided strategic oversight on global standards, while CDC consultants evaluated epidemiological data and vaccine effectiveness, officials said.
Chief Executive Officer Health Dr Ehsan Ghani briefed the delegation on departmental implementation and administrative coordination of the campaign.
Dr Sajjad from the National Stop Transmission of Polio (NSTOP) shared details of surveillance systems, data collection and field monitoring.
The District Health Officer, Dr. Jawad highlighted micro-planning and implementation of the “3+1 modality”, which integrates Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) and Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) to enhance immunity coverage.
Officials said the delegation also reviewed media and advocacy strategies aimed at addressing vaccine refusal and hesitancy among communities.
The participants emphasized the importance of strengthening coordination between international guidelines and local field operations to achieve the goal of a polio-free region.
The visit was conducted under the supervision of the Punjab Health and Population Department in coordination with the district administration.
