Lakki Marwat, DI Khan launch polio drive
An extensive anti-polio vaccination campaign has been launched in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), targeting two districts, Lakki Marwat and DI Khan, with the aim of immunizing children under the age of five. Scheduled to run until March 5, this initiative seeks to ensure maximum coverage and protection against the debilitating disease.
Commencing on March 3, the campaign will expand its reach to encompass additional districts within the province, aiming to provide polio drops to all eligible children.
In Lakki Marwat, an estimated 221,398 children are slated to receive vaccinations, with a formidable workforce of 1,011 teams dedicated to achieving this goal. Similarly, DI Khan anticipates vaccinating approximately 382,385 children, facilitated by 2,839 teams over a nine-day period from February 26 to March 5.
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The nationwide effort, spanning from February 26 to March 3, is set to vaccinate over 45.8 million children across the country. Subsequently, 33 districts in K-P will sustain the campaign from March 2 to March 6. Alongside polio drops, children will also receive vitamin A supplements to bolster their immune systems and overall health.
Federal Secretary for Health, Iftikhar Ali Shallwani, underscored the critical importance of vaccination in combatting polio, emphasizing the severe and irreversible consequences the disease can inflict on children.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 27th, 2024.