IPV programme in Balochistan to begin from tomorrow
Over 200,000 children will be vaccinated against poliovirus in Quetta, Killa Abdullah and Pishin districts
Over 200,000 children will be vaccinated against poliovirus in Quetta, Killa Abdullah and Pishin districts. PHOTO: AFP
QUETTA:
The Inactivated Polio Vaccination (IPV) programme will kick off in two phases from April 4-12 in three high-risk districts of Balochistan where poliovirus is still active, an official said on Sunday.
“The IPV initiative will be launched in Quetta, Pishin and Killa Abdullah, where over 200,000 children (of ages between 4-23 months) would be injected against the crippling poliovirus,” Provincial Coordinator Polio Programme Dr Syed Saifur Rehman said.
The programme will target over 150,842 children in the provincial capital; 41,898 in Pishin and 46,450 in Killa Abdullah, added Dr Rehman.
IPV campaign against virus to target high-risk areas
He said the second IPV phase will run from April 13-20 in Tehsil Killa Abdullah and Gulistan where more than 44,450 children would be vaccinated.
“Around 649 temporary vaccination outreach centers will be established in Quetta block,” he added.
Balochistan’s first polio case of 2016 was reported in Quetta in February. Muhammad Akram, a 30-months-old toddler was diagnosed with the virus.
Dr Rehman said the recent polio case in Quetta had missed the IPV programme in 2015.
The provincial coordinator appealed the parents to have their children vaccinated at the nearest polio center to help prevent them from lifetime paralysis.
Security forces will also be engaged to avert any untoward incident during the campaign, said the coordinator.
The Inactivated Polio Vaccination (IPV) programme will kick off in two phases from April 4-12 in three high-risk districts of Balochistan where poliovirus is still active, an official said on Sunday.
“The IPV initiative will be launched in Quetta, Pishin and Killa Abdullah, where over 200,000 children (of ages between 4-23 months) would be injected against the crippling poliovirus,” Provincial Coordinator Polio Programme Dr Syed Saifur Rehman said.
The programme will target over 150,842 children in the provincial capital; 41,898 in Pishin and 46,450 in Killa Abdullah, added Dr Rehman.
IPV campaign against virus to target high-risk areas
He said the second IPV phase will run from April 13-20 in Tehsil Killa Abdullah and Gulistan where more than 44,450 children would be vaccinated.
“Around 649 temporary vaccination outreach centers will be established in Quetta block,” he added.
Balochistan’s first polio case of 2016 was reported in Quetta in February. Muhammad Akram, a 30-months-old toddler was diagnosed with the virus.
Dr Rehman said the recent polio case in Quetta had missed the IPV programme in 2015.
The provincial coordinator appealed the parents to have their children vaccinated at the nearest polio center to help prevent them from lifetime paralysis.
Security forces will also be engaged to avert any untoward incident during the campaign, said the coordinator.