Anti-polio drive: ‘1.3m children to be vaccinated’

Executive district officer says staff from private hospitals, other institutions called to participate in drive.

FAISALABAD: As many as 1.3 million children under the age of five will be vaccinated in a polio drive from February 24 to February 26 in the district, District Coordination Officer Noorul Amin Mengal said on Wednesday. Addressing the District Polio Eradication Committee, the DCO said no child should be left unvaccinated in the polio drive. He directed the Health Department officials to implement the campaign in letter and spirit. “A comprehensive plan pertaining to arrangements, operation, monitoring and awareness of the anti-polio campaign should be devised along with standard operational procedures,” he said. Mengal said awareness campaigns should also be carried out during the campaign. He said special teams would be deployed to administer drops to children travelling with their parents at bus stands and other public places. Executive District Officer (Health) Waqar Sadiq and District Officer (Health) Liaqat Ali told the participants about the campaign arrangements. Sadiq said staff from private hospitals and other institutions had been called to participate in the drive. MPAs Ijaz Ahmad, Azad Ali Tabassum and World Health Organisation representatives Asif were also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 20^th, 2014.