Polio campaign to begin today in Balochistan

Balochistan’s Coordinator of Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) Rashid Razzaq has said that a four day polio campaign is set to begin today in all 33 districts of Balochistan.

“All preparations have been completed for the three days Anti-Polio drive in Balochistan,” he said.

According to sources, more than 2.5 million children of less than five years would be administered with polio drops.

Razzaq added that 10,585 teams would be deployed to vaccinate children under the age of five. “At least 8,988 Mobile teams, 941 fixed and 594 transit teams have been deployed in whole province to make sure that all children are administered with polio drops.”

Razzaq further said the provincial government adopted strict security to prevent any unforeseen situation. “Balochistan Levies force, Police and Frontier Corps (FC) would be deployed to protect the polio workers,” he said, adding that religious scholars are also taking part to persuade parents who normally refuse to administer polio drops.

It is pertinent to note that Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two counties that still report polio cases.

In the recent year, 19 polio cases were reported in Balochistan whereas 72 from all over Pakistan. “The efforts of frontline workers are but still we have to stop the virus circulation and save our children,” Razzaq concluded.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21^st, 2020.