Five-day anti-polio drive kicks off on Monday
Minister says the aim is to boost children’s immunity before start of polio high-risk season
PHOTO: EXPRESS
LAHORE:
Around 6.9 million children below the age of five years will be administered polio drops in eight districts of the province during the five-day campaign, starting from March 12 (Monday).
During the drive, Sehat Muhafiz polio eradication teams of the health department will visit door-to-door to vaccinate children.
Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Khawaja Imran Nazir said that Punjab Emergency Operations Centre has decided to hold polio eradication campaigns in Lahore, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Rawalpindi, Rahim Yar Khan and Sheikhupura.
"The aim of the drive is to boost children's immunity before the high-risk season of polio begins in May," he said.
During the meeting Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Ali Jan Khan urged the parents to get their children vaccinated, especially those people who were guests from other provinces and areas should get their children vaccinated.
In 2018, so far no polio case has been reported in the province. Punjab is focusing on South Punjab districts as well as Rawalpindi and Lahore because of the sporadic resurgence of polio-virus which means there is still hard work to do to eliminate the virus completely. Punjab's Emergency Operation Coordinator Dr Munir Ahmed said: "We are conducting campaigns with a resolve to eradicate polio from Pakistan in 2018." He stressed upon the parents to cooperate with the polio teams in their areas and call the official helpline of 0800-99000 in case of any complaints.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2018.
Around 6.9 million children below the age of five years will be administered polio drops in eight districts of the province during the five-day campaign, starting from March 12 (Monday).
During the drive, Sehat Muhafiz polio eradication teams of the health department will visit door-to-door to vaccinate children.
Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Khawaja Imran Nazir said that Punjab Emergency Operations Centre has decided to hold polio eradication campaigns in Lahore, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Rawalpindi, Rahim Yar Khan and Sheikhupura.
"The aim of the drive is to boost children's immunity before the high-risk season of polio begins in May," he said.
During the meeting Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Ali Jan Khan urged the parents to get their children vaccinated, especially those people who were guests from other provinces and areas should get their children vaccinated.
In 2018, so far no polio case has been reported in the province. Punjab is focusing on South Punjab districts as well as Rawalpindi and Lahore because of the sporadic resurgence of polio-virus which means there is still hard work to do to eliminate the virus completely. Punjab's Emergency Operation Coordinator Dr Munir Ahmed said: "We are conducting campaigns with a resolve to eradicate polio from Pakistan in 2018." He stressed upon the parents to cooperate with the polio teams in their areas and call the official helpline of 0800-99000 in case of any complaints.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2018.