Anti-polio drive to begin in 25 districts of Balochistan on Monday

Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) Balochistan Coordinator Rashid Razzaq has said that the five-day anti-polio drive in 25 districts of Balochistan will begin on August 17, Monday during which more than 2,098,000 children will be vaccinated against polio.

He shared these views in a press conference on Saturday at Emergency Operation Centre Balochistan with UNICEF and WHO representatives.

Razzaq has said that all preparations have been made regarding the anti-polio campaign in which 8,242 teams will be deployed to vaccinate children under the age of five while at least 7,443 mobile teams, 742 fixed points have been deployed in 25 districts of Balochistan to ensure polio vaccination to the target population.

The campaign will be conducted in Quetta, Kila Abdullah, Pishin, Barkhan, Bolan, Dera Bugti, Dukki, Harnai, Sibi, Jaffarabad, Jhal Magsi, Kalat, Khuzdar, Kohlu, Killa Saifullah, Lasbela, Loralai, Mastung, Ziarat, Nasirabad, Sherani, Sohbatpur, Zhob, Musakhel, Surab and other districts.

"Necessary steps are being taken for the campaign in 25 districts of Balochistan. The anti-polio campaign will continue till August 22," Razzaq said, adding that security arrangements for the anti-polio campaign have been finalised as Frontier Corps Balochistan, police and Levies personnel are taking part in providing security to the polio staff.

Razzaq added that religious scholars are also taking part to persuade the parents who normally refuse to administer the polio drops on religious grounds.

The coordinator said that this is the first anti-polio campaign after significant decrease in the coronavirus cases while 16 cases of polio have been reported in Balochistan this year.

According to Razzaq, 11 districts of Balochistan are currently affected by polio and the presence of crippling disease in the environment and sewage water of Quetta, Kila Abdullah and Pishin has been confirmed.

"Due to the virus in the environment and sewage water, there is a danger of polio spread in Quetta, Kila Abdullah and Pishin," he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 16^th, 2020.