ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: A three-day polio vaccination campaign began in parts of Sindh, Balochistan and Lahore on Monday as a part of efforts to eradicate the infectious crippling disease from the county.
As many as 3.5 million children up to five years of the age are being administered polio vaccine during the three-day special polio eradication campaign in Karachi, Larkana, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Qambar-Shahdadkot, Kashmore-Kandhkot Sukkur and other specific areas of the Sindh province.
The provincial health department has constituted mobile and fix teams which will ensure polio vaccine to the children during door to door campaign.
The health authorities said that around 800,000 children will be administered with polio vaccine in the 97 union councils in Karachi during the campaign. However, another specific polio eradication campaign will also be launched in the Karachi from November 15 with the determination to make the city polio free.
Meanwhile, a three-day vaccination drive also began in eight districts of Balochistan today during which 1.2 million children under five years of age will be administered polio drops.
The provincial health department officials said that the anti-polio drive has been launched in Quetta, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Zhob, Sherani, Nasirabad, Jaffarabad and Lasbela districts.
As many as 2,545 health teams have been formed to administer polio drops to the children during door to door campaign whereas 290 fixed points and 164 transit points have also been established where more than 500 area in-charges will monitor the anti-polio drive.
The World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Bill Gates Foundation are supporting the Balochistan government of in eradicating the menace of polio virus from the province.
In order to make the polio drive successful, an emergency operation centre headed by the Chief Secretary Balochistan Saifullah Chatha has also been set up in Quetta.
Likewise, a three-day anti-polio campaign also began in 165 union councils of Lahore district today.
The District Coordination Officer (DCO) Lahore Muhammad Usman has directed the authorities to monitor the campaign and make it successful.
It may be recalled that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while addressing the steering committee on polio eradication in Islamabad on November 5 reiterated his government’s commitment to vaccinate all children and make Pakistan a polio free country.
The prime minister directed provincial governments that efforts for the eradication of polio virus should be made integrated to achieve the goal of a polio free country.
