Polio drive begins across Pindi today

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi District Health Authority will launch a polio vaccination campaign in Rawalpindi today to administer anti-polio drops to children.

The campaign will continue for four days, for which Rawalpindi Police have completed security arrangements.

A comprehensive security plan has been devised to ensure the safety of polio teams. More than 900 police officers and personnel will perform duties during the campaign.

According to officials, the campaign will run from April 13 to 16 in both urban and rural areas of Rawalpindi. The health department has constituted 668 teams that will go door-to-door and also cover bus stands and vehicles to administer polio drops to children. A meeting chaired by CPO Khalid Hamdani was held to review security arrangements, where officers were given special instructions to ensure safety. Under the plan, police personnel have been deployed at union council and police station levels, as well as point-wise, to secure 668 teams, 352 transit points and 231 fixed centres across Rawal, Potohar and Saddar divisions, covering eight circles and 30 police stations.

DSPs and SHOs have been made responsible for supervision and briefing of personnel. No polio team will be allowed to enter any area without police security.

A command and control room has been established at the Deputy Commissioner's Office, where DSP Admin Shahida Yasmin has been appointed focal person and will remain on duty from 8am to 6pm.