Anti-polio campaign to commence on Sep 20

Balochistan Coordinator Emergency Operations Center Hameedullah Nasar has announced that all arrangements have been made for the anti-polio drive in 34 districts of Balochistan starting from September 20.

The five-day anti-polio campaign aims to immunise 2.5 million children up to the age of five.

“A total of 11,383 teams will take part in the campaign, while 19,200 law enforcement personnel, including Levies, police and Balochistan Constabulary, will provide security for the teams,” Nasar said while addressing a press conference on Thursday. “There are fixed transit points on both borders where people of all ages are vaccinated against polio.”

The emergency operations coordinator added that 9,470 mobile teams will be deployed for the campaign at 949 fixed sites and 592 transit points. “During the anti-polio campaign, children will also be given vitamin A drops,” Nasar said.

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He highlighted that presently, Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world where the polio virus is present.

It is pertinent to note that one case of polio has been reported from Balochistan this year. However, children in Quetta, Pishin and especially Killa Abdullah district are still at risk of contracting the polio virus.

“Scholars have a key role to play in the success of the polio campaign, which will raise awareness during the campaign,” Nasar said, adding that religious scholars highlight the national cause during Friday prayer sermons.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2021.