Anti-polio campaign begins in Bahawalpur

More than 717,000 children under the age of five years will be administered anti-polio drops in the Bahawalpur district during a campaign that started on Monday.

According to Director Health and Focal Person Dr Zaki Ali, 2,649 teams have been constituted for the campaign, which include 2,343 mobile teams, 173 serving at fixed spots, 133 transit teams and special teams for Cholistan and the river areas. The campaign is being monitored by 477 supervisors, 337 area in-charges, 122 union council monitoring officers and six tehsil supervisors.

The left out children will be given vaccines on August 5 and 6.

Read Polio vaccination in 16 districts starts today

The official said all-out efforts were needed to make the campaign successful and keep the district polio-free. The health department urged parents to get their kids up to the age of five years vaccinated against polio during the five days drive.

A spokesperson for South Punjab health secretariat said that over 4.1 million children would be vaccinated in six districts of the region, including Multan, Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Rajanpur and Rahim Yar Khan during the Sub-National Immunisation Days.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 3^rd, 2021.