Five-day polio drive begins in Rawalpindi

749,000 children to be covered during campaign, says DC

RAWALPINDI:

Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner (DC) Tahir Farooq on Monday inaugurated the five-day anti-polio drive by administering drops to children under five years of age at the Cantonment General Hospital.

Speaking on the occasion, the DC directed the officials concerned to cover refusal and non-attended children on the same day. He further said that as many as 749,000 children below the age of five would be covered during the drive.

He assured that the security of polio workers would be ensured. Sharing details of the arrangement for the campaign the District Health Authority (DHA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Faiza Kanwal said that 4,046 polio teams, 856 area In-charges, 242 medical officers were participating in the campaign. She said that strict observance of Covid-19 health guidelines, such as the use of masks and sanitisers would be ensured. Dr Faiza said the drive was also being utilised for creating awareness about Covid-19 and anti-dengue preventive measures.

Read: Anti-polio drive begins in 29 districts

In addition, 307 fixed centres have been set up, while children coming from outside were also being vaccinated at 147 transit points of the district, she added.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 1^st, 2022.