The International Health Regulatory (IHR) Emergency Committee will give its final recommendations to the World Health Organisation in the next five days regarding the imposition of travel restrictions on Pakistan for its failure to curb the spread of the poliovirus.
Pakistan’s fate hangs in the balance, as it broke its own 10-year record after 58 new polio cases surfaced in the first four month of this year, making it tougher for the country to clear its position before the international community.
Talking to The Express Tribune, a senior official at the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination (NHSRC), requesting anonymity, said Pakistan has not yet worked on a strategy to deal with the restrictions, if imposed. There would be a strict visa policy for people who will be travelling from Pakistan or coming in, he explained. It will become difficult for frequent business travellers to get vaccinated during every visit, said the official.
Moreover, the labour force that goes to Middle East every year will also face huge difficulties, he added.
Categories: Asia