Chakwal polio case triggers vaccination drive

Special body to suggest future strategies to prevent disease outbreak

CHAKWAL:

A case of polio was recently reported in Miani, Tehsil Kallar Kahar, District Chakwal, prompting officials to order polio vaccinations for all children under the age of five.

Secretary of Health Ali Jan visited Miani with senior officials from the Health Department of Punjab and Chakwal to review the case of a six-year-old child diagnosed with the polio virus, despite having been fully vaccinated over the last five years.

During his visit, Secretary Health Ali Jan also visited the nearby primary health centre in Kahot and held a special meeting at the trauma centre. In this meeting, all aspects of the case were discussed, and Ali Jan expressed his satisfaction with the measures taken to combat the polio virus.

Following the examination of the affected child at CMH Rawalpindi, it was decided to review all Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) cases across the district. A special committee was formed to address the situation and present final recommendations for future strategies to prevent polio.

The visit included several key health officials, such as Special Secretary Muhammad Iqbal, Additional Secretary Health Dr Asim Altaf, Additional Secretaries Dr Younis and Dr Wasim, Director EPI Dr Mukhtar Awan, Dr Shamaila Akbar from WHO, Dr Asif Chaudhry, CEO Health Medical Superintendent DHQ Hospital Chakwal Dr Anjum Qadeer, District Health Officer Dr Muhammad Shahbaz, and Dr Kamran.

The officials reviewed all aspects of the polio diagnosis in the six-year-old child and reiterated that the child had received full vaccination over the past five years. The formation of the special committee and the comprehensive review of AFP cases aim to strengthen the district's response to polio.