Ensuring immunisation: Pindi prepares for anti-polio drive next week

Any negligence by vaccination teams will not be tolerated and strict action will be taken against lax officials.

RAWALPINDI:

A five-day campaign to administer anti-polio drops to all children under the age of five in Rawalpindi district will start from November 18.

Any negligence on part of the vaccination teams will not be tolerated and strict action will be taken against lax officials.

This was decided in a recent meeting to review the arrangements for the campaign. The meeting was chaired by Additional Deputy Commissioner General (ADCG) Muhammad Ali Randhawa and Health Department officials.

The ADCG said the concerned departments should bind officials to perform duties efficiently during the campaign to achieve maximum coverage.

A health department official said a comprehensive strategy has been devised for effective monitoring of the campaign.

He appealed to parents to cooperate with the mobile teams and said citizens need to come forward and play a constructive role to make the drive a success.

He said 1,321 mobile teams have been constituted for the anti-polio campaign while 256 static centres for vaccination would be established. Moreover, 83 teams would administer anti-polio drops to the children of visitors in public parks, bus stands, railway station and airport in Rawalpindi district.

The departments concerned have also been directed to appoint focal persons for cooperation.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 14^th, 2013.