Punjab Launches Polio Drive to Target Over 1m Children in Rawalpindi

News Desk
RAWALPINDI: Punjab health authorities on Monday launched an intensive seven-day special anti-polio drive across 13 districts, setting a primary target to vaccinate nearly one million children under the age of five in Rawalpindi district alone to curtail poliovirus transmission.
District Health Authority Rawalpindi Chief Executive Officer Dr. Ehsan Ghani confirmed that a dedicated workforce exceeding 8,000 health workers and volunteers has been deployed across the region.
Mobile teams are conducting door-to-door visits, while fixed teams operate at regional public hospitals and dedicated transit points. Dr. Ghani underscored that securing complete access to high-risk areas and temporary settlements remains the foremost priority for provincial health administrators.
Persistent population mobility between major urban hubs and rural sectors continues to pose a formidable challenge to Pakistan’s national polio eradication efforts.
Frequent migration and short-term travel often lead to missed doses, creating immunity gaps that threaten public health resilience.
Transit vaccination hubs established at bus terminals, railway stations, and entry corridors are designed specifically to intercept mobile families and maintain persistent community immunity levels.
Running through September 27, the week-long campaign involves rigorous daily oversight, field monitoring, and real-time reporting to address operational bottlenecks immediately.
Local administration and health officials have appealed to parents, civil society, and community influencers to actively support visiting health teams and ensure every eligible child receives the life-saving oral polio vaccine drops.