Anti-polio drive kicks off in twin cities

Campaign aims to vaccinate hundreds of thousands of children under the age of five

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI:

Like other cities of the country, a week-long anti-polio campaign has officially begun in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

On the occasion, Islamabad deputy commissioner said the polio campaign was a critical public health effort to eradicate the crippling disease, and the involvement of the assistant commissioners was a key factor in its success.

Meanwhile, Rawalpindi deputy commissioner inaugurated the anti-polio drive by administering protective drops to children under five years of age. Representatives of the Department of Health and WHO and officers of other relevant departments were also present on the occasion. The deputy commissioner also received a briefing regarding the arrangements for the polio campaign.

The DC said during the anti-polio campaign, 786,877 children under the age of five years in Rawalpindi district will be given polio vaccine, while 245 UCMOs and 870 area in-charges have been appointed, 3,675 mobile teams have been formed, 330 fixed points have been established and 163 transit points have also been appointed in Rawalpindi district for the anti-polio campaign. The total number of teams in Rawalpindi district is 4,068.

He instructed that risk union councils of the district should be specially focused on cases of families that reject vaccination and that they should be covered on the same day. “Polio teams assigned at all entrances and exits of district Rawalpindi should do their work with full responsibility and parents should prove to be responsible citizens by cooperating with the polio teams.”

“Every citizen has to fulfil his social responsibility to realize the dream of polio-free Pakistan,” he further said.

This campaign will continue throughout the week. The last two days of the campaign will focus on rejected families. For the success of the campaign, special counters have been set up at all big and small hospitals, private clinics, dispensaries, bus stops, railway stations and airports.

All government and private schools will also administer the anti-polio vaccine to young children. Guidance has also been taken from elected representatives, ulema, imams of mosques and District Peace Committees to convince the families who are unwilling to cooperate.

“The dignitaries of the area should also be introduced to such families so they can help convince them. Our effort is to eradicate polio from Rawalpindi district by December 31, 2024. This year anti-polio campaign will be conducted every month,” said the commissioner.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2024.