Polio vaccine: 552,801 children to be inoculated in Bahawalpur district

BAHAWALPUR:

A polio vaccination campaign in the district will start from February 11. During the campaign, 552,802 children, under five years of age, will be vaccinated.

In a meeting with officers concerned, District Coordination Officer (DCO) Naeem Rauf said that polio mobile teams will be monitored by third parties so that there was no doubt about the transparency of the campaign.

The DCO directed health officers to ensure that every child under five – whether from rural or urban areas – is vaccinated. He warned negligent officials of strict action, advising them to “work with honesty, patriotism and diligence.”

He asked parents to get their children vaccinated. Parents must be told about the threat of disability that polio poses, he said.

He directed assistant commissioners, EDO Health and the district health officers to check the vaccination plan tehsil level so the campaign was a success.

The health EDO told the meeting that 1,284 teams had been constituted for the campaign. Of these 1,019 are mobile teams and 145 are stationary. Another 105 teams will be deployed at bus stands, airports and railway stations to vaccinate children who were travelling. A total of 226 area incharges, 43 zonal supervisors and six tehsil supervisors will oversee the campaign.

The EDO (health) assured the DCO that the staff deputed was trained.

DCO Rauf also reviewed the arrangements made to vaccinate children against measles.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2^nd, 2013.