Three-day polio drive starts today
LAHORE – The anti-polio campaign will be held in 74 Union Councils of the provincial capital from August 3-5, the Directorate General Health Services announced on Sunday.
Following the positive environmental sample for the month of June in Multan Road drain, it was decided that a campaign would be organised in 74 UCs from August 3-5 in the provincial capital. As a case response, the children of age group below five years in the 74 high risk union councils out of a total of 165 UCs in the provincial metropolis will be administered polio drops.
The preparations for logistics and vaccine supply have been started to carryout campaign. “We have ensured that adequate supply of vaccines is made in every UC and that no child is left. I request the parents to take their children to nearest vaccination centres or call our toll free number if the vaccinator is not able to reach them,” DG Health Dr Zahid Pervaiz said.
“Polio has had a crippling effect on Pakistan image in the world. We will make all out efforts to save our next generation from the deadly disease,” he said. Dr Zahid Pervaiz urged the migrants coming from other provinces and their hosts to get their children immunised. He said mobile teams will go from door to door to administer polio drops to children below five years of age.
The campaign, with focus on 74 high risk union council of Lahore district, will look to immunise frequent travelling population to other provinces.
EPI Director Dr Munir Ahmed said: “Punjab has introduced measures like E-vaccs for the GPRS driven accountability of the performance of vaccinators. Besides campaign, I urge parents to complete the routine immunisation of their children as per schedule from our fixed centres.”
Punjab accounted for just four cases in year 2014 in country’s total of 306 and in the current year, there has been no case so far. Earlier this month, the International Polio Plus Committee also announced an award for Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for polio eradication efforts.
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