Five-day anti-polio drive planned for Rawalpindi

Some 2,181 polio teams would go door-to-door and administer oral polio vaccine drops to 829,000 children

RAWALPINDI: A five-day anti-polio drive would commence in the entire district from September 18, officials said on Tuesday.

During the campaign, 2,181 polio teams would go door-to-door and administer oral polio vaccine drops to 829,000 children of less than five years of age, Chief Executive Officer (CEO- Health) Dr Fayyaz Ahmed Butt said.

Dr Butt said that 287 fixed centres and 287 transit points have been designated for the purpose.

Moreover, he added that 217 UC supervisors and 448 area in-charges have also been deployed for the drive.

Sufficient quantity of vaccine is available to make the campaign a success. The CEO urged the citizens, particularly the parents, to come forward and play their role for the elimination of the crippling disease from society. "The parents should cooperate with the special teams so that the set target could be achieved".

He said continuous efforts were being made to control polio. Special teams have also been formed to cover areas from where complaints about unattended children are registered, he said, adding that special arrangements have also been made to cover Cantonment Board areas of Rawalpindi.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6^th, 2017.