WHO to hold health journalism awards ceremony

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced to hold the Health Journalism Awards for Polio Eradication in May. It has stated that thousands of articles, reports and analyses by the media made polio eradication the most highlighted health and social sector issue of the country since the last one year, says a press release.

A special delegation of the World Health Organisation, headed by Country Representative Dr. Guido Sabatinelli, shared this with ‘The News’ Resident Editor Mohammad Malick during a meeting here on Wednesday. Polio Communications and Partnerships Focal Person Alfred Dube was also present in the meeting.

The WHO country representative, while giving details of the health awards, shared with Mohammad Malick that more than 200 health beat correspondents from throughout the country will be invited to take part in the awards, whereas entries from the 7th April 2011 to 7 April 2012 will be considered eligible for the awards.

“We have chosen ‘End Polio Now’ as the official theme of the health awards for the only reason that polio eradication has remained the focus of health-related coverage in the Pakistani media,” said Dr. Guido.

Dr. Guido said that Pakistan was one of the three polio endemic countries in the world, whereas the country had reported 15 polio cases till date during the current year. “Last year, during the corresponding period, Pakistan had reported 22 polio cases, which shows that this year, we are progressing well in the fight against the poliovirus,” he said.

According to him, the World Health Organisation had concerns regarding the population movement of the IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) from Khyber Agency to Jalozai Camp. “We fear a polio outbreak due to massive population movements from Khyber Agency to the Jalozai IDP Camp,” he said while sharing that WHO and the KP government had launched an emergency polio campaign in Jalozai camp and routes leading outside of the Khyber Agency including Bara Tehsil.

It was highlighted that more than 100,000 kids have remained inaccessible to polio teams since 2009 only in Khyber Agency and there was sufficient technical evidence with WHO that active circulation of the crippling poliovirus in the area was a growing challenge for the polio-eradication authorities. “Only Bara in Khyber Agency has reported 5 polio cases during the current year,” said Alfred Dube.

The WHO country representative paid tribute to efforts of ‘The News’ and ‘Jang’ in keeping the public updated about health issues, including polio and dengue fever. “We look forward to ‘Jang’ and ‘The News’ for their support in keeping the people of Pakistan updated about their health,” he remarked.