Pak-Afghan to synchronise polio campaigns

Polio has remained endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan and to mitigate a further outbreak, the two nations will cooperate to promote their polio campaigns. A three-member delegation from the Afghan national polio team will arrive in Pakistan to monitor the campaign beginning in Pakistan on January 11.

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The head of Pakistan's Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), said that one type of virus, R4B5C Dr Rana Safdar, had been travelling from Nangarhar to Khyber and onwards to other parts of both countries, reported the Dawn.

The EOC head added that Polio campaigns will be started on the same day on both sides of the border to ensure that every child is vaccinated even if he or she is travelling.

The teams agreed to monitor nomadic movement across the border and strengthen transit vaccination as well as holding synchronised polio campaigns over the next five months.

Additionally, national representatives from both countries will meet on a quarterly basis through video conferences and through biannual meetings.