Chairman of Capital Development Authority (CDA) Kamran Lashari formally inaugurated three-day polio immunisation campaign here on Monday by administering anti-polio drops to some children present at the Directorate of Health Services of the authority.
Speaking on the occasion, the chairman urged parents, teachers and religious leaders to play their due role for complete eradication of polio from the federal capital.
He claimed that polio had almost been wiped out from the capital because of successful vaccination campaigns.
He further said the health directorate had trained more than 2,000 workers to vaccinate all children under five year by visiting door-to-door in the capital. He said zonal supervisors, besides in charge of respective areas, had been deputed to monitor the campaign.
The government would soon launch a comprehensive campaign against hepatitis B and C. Director, Health Services, Dr Saeed Ahmed informed that in 1994 when the polio campaign was started more than 3500 cases of polio were reported.
Polio surveillance system was not established at that time, he said.
He informed that in the recent campaign, the federal capital has been divided into 7 zones, 28 sectors whereas about 60 fixed centres have been established and 6 teams have been deputed at different transit points where children would be administered polio drops.
Islamabad Hotel/Motel Association and 5-Star hotels have also been directed to contact directorate of health services if any guest staying in their hotel has a child under the age of 5 years for administration of polio drops.
Dr Saeed said in this campaign more than 2000 workers are taking part including doctors, volunteers, LHVs, health workers, dispensers, vaccinators and paramedics.