Countrywide vaccination drive from Monday
Govt says ample security arrangements in place
A separate plan has been prepared for 11 high-risk union councils (UCs) of Karachi where the anti-polio campaign will be carried out in three phases over nine days. PHOTO: NNI
ISLAMABAD:
The government has finalised security arrangements for a countrywide polio vaccination drive which starts on January 19.
The National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) of the Ministry of Interior will work closely with the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) for polio to ensure security for health workers.
The vaccination drive has been postponed in five Balochistan districts —Musakhel, Qila Saifullah, Zhob, Loralai, Sherani — and Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency for security concerns, said Expanded Programme for Immunisation (EPI) national manager Dr Rana Muhammad Safdar.
He said that NCMC Director General Saud Aziz has been appointed the focal person for security of the campaign. The interior ministry has directed chief commissioners, chief and home secretaries to provide tight security to polio teams.
Moreover, a separate plan has been prepared for 11 high-risk union councils (UCs) of Karachi where the anti-polio campaign will be carried out in three phases over nine days.
In Peshawar, however, it would be a one-day drive and will be implemented today, January 18. Safdar said measures have been taken to fill the gaps left during previous drives in Peshawar.
Punjab has already completed its immunisation drive and is now preparing for a 13-day anti-measles drives on Jan 26-Feb 7.
The polio immunisation drive will also be implemented in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) along with the rest of the country.
The Capital Development Authority (CDA)’s Directorate of Health Services (DHS) and ICT Administration will take part in the campaign.
The ICT Administration has requested around 480 police officials to accompany the teams in the capital’s suburbs.
An ICT official said one policeman each will be deployed with 406 polio teams, apart from the area in-charge. “So far we have not received any response from the city administration but hopefully will get something by Monday,” he said.
The official added that most cases of refusing polio vaccine for children are recorded in Pashtun inhabited areas and said they would ‘hopefully’ be covered in the catch-up activities.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 18th, 2015.
The government has finalised security arrangements for a countrywide polio vaccination drive which starts on January 19.
The National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) of the Ministry of Interior will work closely with the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) for polio to ensure security for health workers.
The vaccination drive has been postponed in five Balochistan districts —Musakhel, Qila Saifullah, Zhob, Loralai, Sherani — and Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency for security concerns, said Expanded Programme for Immunisation (EPI) national manager Dr Rana Muhammad Safdar.
He said that NCMC Director General Saud Aziz has been appointed the focal person for security of the campaign. The interior ministry has directed chief commissioners, chief and home secretaries to provide tight security to polio teams.
Moreover, a separate plan has been prepared for 11 high-risk union councils (UCs) of Karachi where the anti-polio campaign will be carried out in three phases over nine days.
In Peshawar, however, it would be a one-day drive and will be implemented today, January 18. Safdar said measures have been taken to fill the gaps left during previous drives in Peshawar.
Punjab has already completed its immunisation drive and is now preparing for a 13-day anti-measles drives on Jan 26-Feb 7.
The polio immunisation drive will also be implemented in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) along with the rest of the country.
The Capital Development Authority (CDA)’s Directorate of Health Services (DHS) and ICT Administration will take part in the campaign.
The ICT Administration has requested around 480 police officials to accompany the teams in the capital’s suburbs.
An ICT official said one policeman each will be deployed with 406 polio teams, apart from the area in-charge. “So far we have not received any response from the city administration but hopefully will get something by Monday,” he said.
The official added that most cases of refusing polio vaccine for children are recorded in Pashtun inhabited areas and said they would ‘hopefully’ be covered in the catch-up activities.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 18th, 2015.