100 per cent: Capital city claims a ‘first’ in anti-polio coverage

151 mobile teams comprising 302 workers go door to door to administer drops.

ISLAMABAD:

The capital has become the first city in the country by immunising all target children against polio virus during a recent campaign. Not a single child was missed during the anti-polio campaign in the capital, claim health officials.

The Directorate of Health Services of Capital Development Authority (CDA) claimed to have immunised 100 per cent children during the campaign ran from December 27 to 30 last year.

Dr Hassan Urooj, director health services, said a third party evaluation carried out by the World Health Organisation (WHO) suggests that no child was missed during the four-day drive.

He said some 60,000 children under the age of five residing in slums, urban peripheries, and unplanned settlements among others were targeted.

A WHO official, who wished not to be named, said that it was for the first time in the history of Pakistan that such a feat had been achieved in any city.

“Though it was surprising for us as well and we rechecked the authenticity of the campaign more than four times using Lots Quality Assurance tool.” It is a positive sign for Pakistan which is struggling to eradicate polio. I hope other cities will follow this,” he said.

Dr Urooj said the focus of the campaign was such areas where Pakhtun families are residing or have ill-planned population due to frequent migrations. The areas included Golra, Tarnol, Sangjani, Jhangi Syedan, Budhana Kalan, Dhok Paracha, Pind Paracha, Drek Mori, Sector I-11, Bokra, and Merabadia.

“For this campaign youth above the age of 20 years were trained as health activists to administer drops in their respective communities and to ensure that a child once missed due to any reason should be rechecked unless the drops are administrated,” he said.

Sharing further details, he said that the capital was divided in seven zones, each targeting seven to 10,000 children. About 35 sector supervisers were deputed to organise and monitor the field activity whereas 151 mobile teams comprising 302 workers went door to door to administer drops.

Additionally, some 40 teams were deputed at fixed points at various centres in order to cater to those who were out of their homes for shopping or other purposes. As many as 20 transit teams were stationed at different entry and exit points of the town.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2014.