Polio campaign in 12 districts from today

Polio campaign in 12 districts from today

• November 22, 2016, 9:29 pm
• National News
• 235 Views

QUETTA Nov 22 (PPI): All is set to vaccinate around 1.6 million children during the three day anti-polio campaign in 12 districts of Balochistan.

Coordinator for provincial Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) Balochistan, Syed Faisal Ahmed, said in Tuesday that all essential preparations are being completed in time for the three day Nov 23-25 Anti-Polio drive in 12 districts across Balochistan.

Anti-Polio drive will be held in Dera Bugti, Qilla Saifullah, Qilla Abdullah, Naseerabad, Jaffarabad, Khuzdar, Pishin, Loralai, Quetta, Jhal Magsi, Zhob, Sherani and other high risk districts.

“A total of 6,050 vaccination teams will be deployed to administer anti-polio drops among children under the age of five,” said Syed Faisal. He further explained that 5,148 Mobile teams, 420 fixed sites and 482 transit points have been established across Balochistan to make sure that all children are given polio drops.

“We have adopted strict security to prevent any unpredictable situation. Frontier Corps, Police and Levies force will be deployed to protect the polio workers,” said Syed Faisal.

He also mentioned that religious scholars are also taking part to persuade the parents who normally refuse to administer the polio drops. Besides, special efforts have been made by the Emergency Operation Centre to address the misleading information on polio, being circulated by anti-social elements and people with hidden agenda and vested interests, particularly among conservative people in Balochistan, using the leading Ulema and scholars with the anti-polio campaign.

In the current year, a total 18 new polio cases have been reported in Pakistan while Balochistan has emerged with only one polio case last February. However, Mr. Syed underlined that the laboratory result of the recent environmental samples collected from Qilla Abdullah, Pishin and Quetta have been found positive, which indicate that the virus is still with us and the threat reeling on our children and can infect and cripple more children anytime soon, if they are not protected.

He concluded his briefing saying “It is time to come together and work hand in hand to intensify the fight and eradicate polio. It is time all; parents, civil society, politicians and religious scholars, should cooperate against the crippling disease.”