Polio vaccine: 187,392 children to be inoculated in Bahawalpur district

BAHAWALPUR: A polio vaccination campaign will commence from August 6 and during the campaign 187,392 children under five years of age will be vaccinated across the district.

In a meeting with officers concerned Additional Deputy Commissioner Revenue Zahid Akram said that teams will be monitored by third parties so that there was no doubt about the transparency of the campaign. The Additional Deputy Commissioner Revenue directed the health officers to ensure that every child under five – whether from rural or urban areas – is vaccinated.

He warned negligent officials of strict action, advising them to work with honesty, patriotism and diligence. He urged the parents to get their children vaccinated. Parents must be told about the threat of disability that polio poses, he added.

He directed the concerned officers to check the vaccination plan at tehsil level so that the campaign was a success. The Additional Deputy Commissioner Revenue said that 981 personnel and 467 teams had been constituted for the drive.

Of these 313 are mobile teams and 74 will be deployed at hospitals while 73 teams will perform duties at bus stands, airport and railway stations to vaccinate children who were travelling.

The meeting was attended by Dr Fayyaz Anwar Chief Executive Officer District Health Authority, Rabia Sial Assistant Commissioner City, Mehdi Maloof Assistant Commissioner Sadr and other concerned officers.