Polio teams support Pakistan’s COVID-19 response

Polio teams in Pakistan have been working to support the COVID-19 response since the beginning of the pandemic, as well as continuing with their work to eradicate polio. In Peshawar, approaches and methods which have proven effective in tracking and fighting polio served as a model in the fight against COVID-19. Among these were utilizing existing acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance networks embedded in hospitals and health care facilities, as well as regularly collecting and testing water samples. Data management systems across the country and a call centre in the capital, Islamabad, assist in addressing misinformation and helping to detect suspected cases. Polio staff were also involved in training COVID-19 rapid response teams and training health workers on infection prevention and control.