Local policies
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Afghanistan does not have many policies regulating the prevention of the polio virus. After their civil war their health system needed to be rebuilt so much of their support was coming from outside sources (1). The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) developed the basic package of health services (BPHS) and the essential package of hospital services (EPHS) to help deliver needed services to the people of Afghanistan (1).
This health program has increased the number of health care workers and has brought health care within one hour walking distance for more than half of the population. Although the health care systems are being developed, the government still only pays for about 4-5% of the budget (1). The President and Chief Executive are aware of the problems with public health care and are working to change it for the better of the Afghan people and have mobilized every part of society to aid in this health care change (1). |
Global Policies
There are many global groups that are working toward eradicating the polio disease. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) has five major partners in the fight against polio including: the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UNICEF and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (2). GPEI is working to strengthen the immunization system in Afghanistan by supplying immunizations to migrating populations (3). These groups are trying to vaccinate all children in Afghanistan but face challenges such as religious groups, population location, and community participation. GPEI and its partners are working with members of the community to try to reach all children for vaccinations.
WHO is a key partner in polio eradication with a focus on maintaining a sensitive surveillance system and supporting supplementary immunization activities in planning, training and quality assurance through a network of field-based staff. With partners, WHO conducts National Immunization Day campaigns three times a year, vaccinating more than 9.5 million children under five years of age in all districts, and Sub National Immunization Days targeting nearly 6 million children in high-risk districts six times a year. Immediate responses to confirmed cases are carried out through mop-up campaigns to contain and eliminate transmission.
References:
1. World Health Organization (WHO). 2018. Country Cooperation Strategy at a Glance. Retrieved
from: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/136852/ccsbrief_afg_en.pdf.
2. Global Polio Eradication Initiative. 2019. Retrieved from: http://polioeradication.org/where-we-work/.
3. World Health Organization (WHO). 2019. Pakistan and Afghanistan: the final wild poliovirus bastion. Retrieved
from: https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/pakistan-and-afghanistan-the-final-wild-poliovirus-bastion.
1. World Health Organization (WHO). 2018. Country Cooperation Strategy at a Glance. Retrieved
from: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/136852/ccsbrief_afg_en.pdf.
2. Global Polio Eradication Initiative. 2019. Retrieved from: http://polioeradication.org/where-we-work/.
3. World Health Organization (WHO). 2019. Pakistan and Afghanistan: the final wild poliovirus bastion. Retrieved
from: https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/pakistan-and-afghanistan-the-final-wild-poliovirus-bastion.