Balochistan launches anti-polio drive today

Syed Zahid Shah, Coordinator of the Emergency Operation Centre Balochistan, announced the launch of a seven-day anti-polio vaccination campaign spanning the entire province starting Monday (today).

The campaign aims to vaccinate 2.65 million children and administer Vitamin A drops to them, as stated in Shah’s Sunday announcement.

Zahid Shah said that since 2021, not a single case of polio has been reported in Balochistan, but it is noteworthy that the virus has been detected in the environmental samples in 10 districts including Quetta, Pishin, Chaman, Hub, Sibi, Naseerabad, Mastung, Keach, Dera Bugti.

Read: Anti-polio campaign targets 1.6m children

He emphasized that for the eradication of poliovirus, all the available resources are being utilized and the polio teams are determined to do that. “Due to the dedicated efforts of the polio teams and others, Balochistan has been declared polio-free for three years,” he said. While appreciating the efforts of the polio workers, he said that despite the cold and harsh weather, the teams are fulfilling their national responsibility.

Zahid Shah said during the campaign, a total of 11,446 teams will be working, including 9,170 mobile, 958 fixed, and 623 transit-point teams.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26^th, 2024.