Five days anti-polio drive from March 25

RAWALPINDI: A five-day polio drive would commence in three tehsils of the district including Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation and Cantonments areas from March 25 to 29 as the environmental water samples tested positive for polio virus for last eight months consecutively.

Talking to APP, District Health Authority In-charge Anti-polio Drive Chaudhry Muhammad Hussain said around 2,000 polio teams including 1,500 mobile teams, 217 fixed points, 90 transit points, 187 union council medical officers and 400 area in-charges would administer polio drops to above 740,000 children less than five years in Tehsil Rawalpindi, Taxila, Gujar Khan, Rawalpindi city and Rawalpindi/ Chaklala cantonments boards area.

Chaudhry Hussain said drive was being launched in the said areas due to presence of polio virus in the sewerage water while no signs have been indicated of polio virus in Tehsil Murree, Kotli Saytaia, Kahuta and Kalar Syeda of the district.

He informed that with the coordinated efforts of government and World Health Organization, polio workers have been trained to accomplish the target set of vaccinating children below five years of age.

He urged the citizens, particularly the parents, to come forward and play their role for the elimination of the crippling disease from society.

“The parents should cooperate with the special teams so that the set target could be achieved.” He said and added continuous efforts were being made to control polio.

Special teams have also been formed to cover areas from where complaints about unattended children are registered, he said.

The in-charge said no polio case has been detected in Rawalpindi, adding that polio is a national issue and it is the responsibility of all to play an effective role to make the country polio free.