Five-Day Polio Immunisation Campaign Launch In Pindi

News Desk

Rawalpindi: Rawalpindi Division Commissioner Laiquat Ali Chatta inaugurated the five-day anti-polio campaign on Monday by administering drops to children under five years of age at the Holy Family Hospital.

As many as 10,15,000 children below five years of age would be covered during the drive, while 250,000 was the target set to administer drops to kids on the first day of the drive, Commissioner informed.

Later, addressing an awareness seminar about polio, LaiquatChatta further stated that in 12 districts across the province, the campaign has already begun to immunise children. “The campaign is launched in the districts where polio environmental samples from the previous six months have tested positive,” he added.

On this particular occasion, Commissioner Ali directed the concerned personnel to give priority to covering refusal and unattended children on the same day.

Chatta exhorted the populace, in particular the parents, to step forward and take an active part in helping to rid society of the crippling illness.

District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Saadat Ali Khan said that 4,199 teams, including 3,680 mobile teams, 866 area in-charges, and 245 medical officers, were participating in the campaign, observing COVID-19 health guidelines such as the use of masks and sanitizers.

Dr Saadat mentioned that the drive is also being utilised to create awareness about anti-dengue preventive measures. “320 fixed centres have been set up while children coming from outside are being vaccinated at 199 transit points in the district,” he added.

The sub-national immunisation driveis launched in selected districts of all provinces to vaccinate approximately 23 million children across Pakistan and will continue until May 21. The campaign will be implemented in two phases. The first phase will be conducted from May 15–19 in 12 districts of Punjab, including Islamabad, 18 districts of Balochistan, and 17 districts of Sindh.While the second phase will be conducted from May 22 to 26 in 22 districts of KP and from May 29 to June 5 in seven districts of southern KP and Quetta,

Approximately 100,000 trained and dedicated ‘Sehat Muhafiz’ will be engaged in the vaccination drive to inoculate the targeted children at their doorstep.

Federal Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel informed that the Sehat Tahhafuz Helpline 1166 and the 24/7 WhatsApp Helpline 0346-777-65-46 will be available to assist parents and carers in reporting missed children.

Patel added that repeated polio vaccination campaigns are imperative for building immunity among children and preventing lifelong paralysis.