Chasing polio in Pakistan: Why the world’s largest public health initiative may fail

Samuel L. Katz

J Clin Invest. 2011;121(2):466-466. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI45789.

Book Review

In Chasing Polio in Pakistan: Why the World’s Largest Public Health Initiative May Fail, Svea Closser, a Middlebury College assistant professor of anthropology, has written a thoughtful and provocative assessment of the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) based on her own field work in 2006–2007. Closser, married to a Pakistani man and fluent in Urdu, had access to field workers and government officials, and provides greater insight than might be expected from a Western author. As an anthropologist, Closser strove to evaluate the progress and deficits of the program from a political and societal perspective rather than a technical or operational one. The result is a very convincing evaluation of the causes of failures to date, and Closser extrapolates that the lessons learned in fighting polio in Pakistan might apply to problems in other nations and to eradication efforts for diseases such as measles and malaria. Pakistan is one of the four countries (along with Nigeria, India, and Afghanistan) in which polio has remained endemic since the World Health Assembly voted in 1988 to eradicate the disease by the year 2000. Ten years after that target date, Nigeria and India show promise of possibly attaining eradication in the next several years, whereas Pakistan and Afghanistan lag. Although the two nations have some similar problems, Pakistan’s are unique in several respects. Immense […]

Find the latest version: https://jci.me/45789/pdf Book review Chasing polio in Pakistan Why the world’s largest public health initiative may fail Svea Closser Vanderbilt University Press. Nashville, Tennessee, USA. 2010. 256 pp. $59.95. ISBN: 978-0-826-51708-1 (hardcover). Reviewed by Samuel L. Katz Department Of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA. E-mail: [email protected]

In Chasing Polio in Pakistan: Why the World’s these tragic developments transpired three day for a five-day week, traveling on foot Largest Public Health Initiative May Fail, Svea years after Closser’s experiences and the through their assigned districts; super- Closser, a Middlebury College assistant preparation of her manuscript, much of visors might have a bicycle or, rarely, a professor of anthropology, has written a what she portrays and professes is relevant motorcycle for transportation. thoughtful and provocative assessment in assessing the likelihood of success or These are but a few of the observations of the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) failure of global eradication endeavors. and conclusions that Closser clearly details based on her own field work in 2006–2007. Closser believes that because polio has in her pages. She argues that societal and Closser, married to a Pakistani man and been eradicated in the Americas and in political considerations, not virologic or fluent in Urdu, had access to field work- most of Europe, Pakistani government immunologic factors, are preventing eradi- ers and government officials, and provides leaders view this global program as a goal cation. Rather than a top-down approach greater insight than might be expected of the affluent nations imposed on them (i.e., Geneva to Islamabad to district offices), from a Western author. As an anthropolo- by WHO and the United Nations. To them, she advises collaborative operations in which gist, Closser strove to evaluate the progress the priority of the disease pales in compari- diverse non-governmental organizations and deficits of the program from a politi- son to so many other national problems of can work on site with local agencies in an cal and societal perspective rather than a much higher magnitude. Although they pay amicable advisory capacity on a district-by- technical or operational one. The result is lip service to the PEI, there is marked foot district basis (the WHO is not authorized to a very convincing evaluation of the causes dragging and false compliance in Islam- operate below the national offices in Islam- of failures to date, and Closser extrapolates abad’s call on district and province officials abad). She suggests that partnership should that the lessons learned in fighting polio in to implement vaccination efforts. Health replace authoritarian directives. Pakistan might apply to problems in other initiatives in general are at the bottom of The detailed operational information nations and to eradication efforts for dis- the national government’s agenda, and the Closser has gathered and described so viv- eases such as measles and malaria. burden of polio is perceived as minor rela- idly cannot be found in PEI reports or sci- Pakistan is one of the four countries tive to that of diarrheal disease, respiratory entific reviews. Hers is a revelation of prob- (along with Nigeria, India, and Afghani- infections, and meningitis. The national lems that erode the daily implementation stan) in which polio has remained endemic government’s influence is unpredictable in of the eradication initiative in Pakistan. In since the World Health Assembly voted in a nation in which central government has her conclusion, Closser states that “aware- 1988 to eradicate the disease by the year variable success in effecting local action. ness of power relationships and resistance 2000. Ten years after that target date, Nige- As Closser points out, “District employees as well as formal planning for institutional ria and India show promise of possibly resisted the directives of their superiors in a flexibility would, I believe, better position attaining eradication in the next several number of ways, including refusal to work, eradication programs to reach their goals. years, whereas Pakistan and Afghanistan falsification, corruption, false compliance, Taking these steps might shift the balance lag. Although the two nations have some and direct confrontation.” Nevertheless, from the possible toward the probable.” similar problems, Pakistan’s are unique Closser notes that the mothers of infants Those responsible for overall direction of in several respects. Immense floods in the and children “accepted polio vaccination the PEI would do well to read and consider summer of 2010 ravaged the Swat valley, without giving the matter much thought.” her presentation. This reviewer, who has resulting in the displacement and migra- More than 40 international consultants lengthy experience at the CDC and WHO tion of several millions of people, the were in Pakistan during Closser’s field levels, is persuaded that her refreshing absence of running water and electricity, work, each costing WHO about $10,000 anthropological approach may provide the destruction of housing, the loss of crops per month for secured housing and solutions to the persistent challenges that and food supply, and the closure of at least chauffeured land cruisers. Meanwhile, have postponed for more than a decade the 500 health clinics and facilities. Although the local vaccinators were paid $2.00 per attainment of global eradication of polio.

466 The Journal of Clinical Investigation http://www.jci.org Volume 121 Number 2 February 2011