Punjab intensifies polio drive using geotagging of migrant population

In a determined push to eradicate polio, the Punjab government has introduced a geo-tagging initiative to track migrant population during its upcoming anti-polio vaccination drive, starting Monday.

This programme is part of a larger national campaign to vaccinate over 23.3 million children under five in Pakistan.

In preparation for the drive, Punjab’s provincial task force on polio eradication met on Saturday to finalise strategies. A key focus of the initiative involves vaccinating children from migrant families at entry and transit points across the province.

Special teams will ensure vaccination coverage, especially for children travelling through high-risk areas.

Punjab’s Health Department has mobilised 4,888 permanent teams and an additional 2,654 transit teams to administer polio vaccines across urban and rural zones.

Officials emphasise the importance of these vaccination points as part of a comprehensive effort to close gaps in immunity among vulnerable children.

41st polio case in Pakistan confirmed

Pakistan's Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) confirmed the country's 41st polio case for 2024 on Friday.

The wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) was detected in a child from the Loralai District in Balochistan, marking the first case in this region for the year.

The child, who showed symptoms of paralysis on October 8, has contributed to the growing number of cases across Pakistan. This year, the country has reported 21 cases in Balochistan, 12 in Sindh, six in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one each in Punjab and Islamabad, underscoring the need for enhanced vigilance in polio eradication efforts.

Health officials continue to ramp up anti-polio campaigns across the nation, aiming to curb further spread in vulnerable regions.