A country-wide anti-polio campaign would begin today (Monday). National Co-ordinator, Pakistan Polio Program Rana Muhammad Safdar said over 38 million children under five years of age will be administered polio drops during the campaign. They include 19.15 million children in Punjab, 8.7 million in Sindh, 5.7 million in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 2.46 million in Balochistan, 1.03 million in Fata, 0.74 million in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 0.237 million in Gilgit-Baltistan and 0.313 million in Islamabad federal capital territory.
Two hundred and sixty thousand polio workers, including 1, 91, 000 mobile teams, 11,0 986 transit teams and 10,0 276 fixed teams will perform their duties during this campaign.
1.3m children to be administered polio drops Meanwhile, a report from Faislabad adds: as many as 1.357 million children under 5 years of age would be administered polio vaccine drops in the district during the next round of anti polio campaign which would continue from 12 to 14 February and additional two days would be observed as sweeping days for administering the polio drops to the left over children due to any reason.
This was stated by Deputy Commissioner Salman Ghani while inaugurating the anti polio campaign at SOS Village Canal road. Additional Director General Health Punjab Dr Shahnaz Nasim, CEO District Health Authority Dr Zafar Abbas, District Health Officer Dr Muhammad Asif Shahzad, DDHO Dr Saqib Munir, Dr Bilal Ahmad and other doctors were also present on the occasion. Deputy Commissioner said that the repeated anti polio campaigns were being carried out to completely wipe out the polio virus. He urged upon the parents to get their children vaccinated during the anti polio campaign for complete eradication of polio virus in the country. He directed the health authority officers for effective monitoring of the campaign to achieve the 100 per cent target. Deputy Commissioner directed that polio teams should be present on static points at passengers transport stands, busiest intersections, market, hospitals, motorway, railway station, recreational places and other sites. He said that no negligence would be tolerated during the National Campaign of Anti Polio and he would himself monitor the campaign on daily basis. DHO Dr Muhammad Asif Shahzad informed that all necessary arrangements are finalized to implement the campaign and total 3211 polio teams would remain active during the campaign for administering the polio vaccine drops to the children under 5 years throughout the district.