The 17th polio case of the year has been confirmed in Pakistan, with a child in Islamabad paralyzed by type 1 wild poliovirus.
The National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for Polio Eradication has launched a targeted vaccination campaign in districts where the virus has been detected and where the risk of continued transmission and spread remains high.
Health authorities have been warning about the continued presence of the virus in the environment. Since June, water samples from Islamabad and neighboring Rawalpindi have tested positive, highlighting the ongoing threat to children's health.
"We have developed clear coordination and communication channels with our provincial EOCs and district teams. We have had extensive consultative workshops with our high-risk districts to decide on and devise district improvement plans, what are remaining gaps and challenges that the program needs to overcome to move forward and interrupt the virus transmission that we're planning to do by mid-2025," said Ayesha Raza Farooq, Prime Minister's Focal Person for Polio Eradication.
In September, a nationwide polio vaccination campaign was launched that is expected to target 115 districts and aims to vaccinate over 33 million children under the age of five.
"This September drive is a special campaign. It is targeting 73 percent of our target population, involving 286,000 polio workers that will knock on every door in the 115 districts that we have identified here," Farooq said.
Experts say these efforts to reach out to families as well as to provide a clean environment are crucial, especially in areas where the virus is still present.
"The Government of Pakistan and the partners will have to improve the essential immunization services so that we cater to the missed children. And then improve case-management of malnourished children, provide clean drinking water, appropriate sanitation and hygiene services at the community level, ensure accountability, implementation of the international staff at the international and national level," said Masood Khan Jogezai, Senior Technical Consultant for Polio Eradication.
Pakistan reports country's 17th polio case in Islamabad
A Swiss air quality services exhibitor at the just-concluded China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) highlighted the growing demand for sustainable practices in the services industry.
The five-day trade fair wrapped up on Monday after attracting participants from over 80 countries and regions, with a host of international organizations also taking part in the event which was themed "Global Services, Shared Prosperity."
The green transition has been a prominent theme at this year's CIFTIS. Frank Hammes, global CEO of Swiss air quality technology company IQAir, emphasized at the event that his company is aligning its product development and operations with the green energy movement.
"As a European company, we have a good tradition, I think we are really leading in the green energy field, but as a manufacturer, we're really stunning with the raw materials and so that's quite important. The next thing is how much energy you use during manufacturing? How much energy do you use for the packaging? What types of packaging materials you're using? And ultimately, but that's the most important thing, how long will your product last? Green today means we have to use whatever we're using much more responsibly. So we have many customers in China now that are using our products for over 20 years. And for example, we're still committed to repairing these products, servicing these products. And again, this is an opportunity for the service industry because labor is abundant, but raw materials are very limited," Hammes said.
Noting the significant potential for green technology solutions in the Chinese market, the CEO said IQAir seeks to assist businesses in showcasing their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives by enhancing transparency about workplace air quality.
"One of the areas that we're working in is helping other companies to show their environmental, social and governance ESG Initiatives. And one of those areas where we can help them is to be more transparent about the air quality that they are giving to their employees at work and able to make sure that they have a healthy, productive working environment. The cognitive ability, the ability to think complex thoughts, is actually reduced. So we help companies be at their best, both from health and from a productivity point of view" he said.
"As a foreign company, you try to use your strength and one of the strengths we have, I think we bring a global perspective. We have so many Chinese companies right now that are interested in expanding globally and I think we're there to help them, to really make sure that they understand if I'm going abroad, I will be looked at in terms of my commitment to my employees, my commitment to the environment. And so we try to help them with that because ultimately an environmental project can only be successful if everyone is part of that," said Hammes.
China initiated a national fair dedicated to promoting trade in services in 2012, which later became known as the CIFTIS. The event has attracted over 900,000 exhibitors and participants from 197 countries and regions since its inception.
Swiss exhibitor at CIFTIS aims to help bolster China's green transition
