Polio vaccination in 16 districts starts today

A five-day anti-polio campaign will start in 16 districts of Balochistan from Monday in which more than 1.6 million children will be administered polio drops.

Coordinator Emergency Operation Center (EOC) Balochistan Rashid Razzaq said in a statement that all preparations have been made regarding the campaign, adding that around 7,192 teams will be deployed to vaccinate children under the age of five.

At least 6,006 mobile teams, 444 fixed points and 370 transit points have been deployed in 16 districts of Balochistan to ensure polio vaccination to the target population.

“Security arrangement for the anti-polio campaign has been finalised as Balochistan Frontier Corps, Police and Levies personnel are taking part in providing security to the polio staff,” said Rashid Razzaq, adding that religious scholars are also taking part to persuade the parents who normally refuse to administer the polio drops on religious grounds.

Read Anti-polio drive to kick off on August 2

The five days anti-polio drive has already commenced in Quetta, Pishin, killa Abdullah, Barkhan, Dera Bugti, Dukki, Jaffarabad, Khuzdar, Killa Saifullah, Loralai, Mastung, Musa Khel, Nasirabad, Sherani, Sohbat Pur and Zhob.

Urging parents to administer their children with polio drops, Rashid Razzaq said that with the support of civil society, religious scholars and media, they have accomplished a major feat in eradication of the poliovirus.

“Parents should cooperate with polio staff and administer their children with anti-polio drops to save them from lifetime disability,” he said.