Anti-polio campaign gets underway all over Balochistan; over 2.655 mln children to be vaccinated

Independent Report

QUETTA: The anti-Polio campaign got underway in all districts of Balochistan including Quetta on Monday.
According to the Emergency Operation Center (EOC) for polio eradication Balochistan, the campaign has been kicked off in all 36 districts of the province with the resolve to reach out each and every child to administer the anti-polio vaccine.
The EOC Coordinator Inamul Haq informed that over 11,555 teams have been formed to administer the anti-polio drops to the children after visiting from home to home and at the transit and fixed points. The teams taking part in the campaign are included 9,247 mobile, 945 fixed sites and 595 transit points.
During the campaign, more than 2.655 million children below five years of age would be administered anti-polio vaccine.
The EOC Coordinator also said that all resources are being mobilized to ensure eradication of polio virus completely.
He said that foolproof security arrangements have been made for the teams engaged in the anti-polio drive.
He mentioned that that in all 12 cases have been reported in first eight months of the current year in Balochistan. These polio cases have been reported from Quetta, Killa Abdullah, Killa Saifullah, Dera Bugti, Jhal Magsi, Zhob and Kharan.
He pointed out that the polio virus has also been detected in the environment of different districts of the province during year 2023 after two and half years. He said that three children suffering from polio virus also died in the province.
The EOC coordinator feared that polio virus may spread to other districts of the province. He said that the children are unsafe due to the presence of polio virus as such parents should not pay with lives of their children and get them administered the anti-polio vaccine.
In addition to this, the parents should also complete the course of immunization of their children along with the polio vaccine, the EOC coordinator pleaded.
The Chief Secretary Balochistan, Shakeel Qadir Khan has already made it clear that the anti-polio campaign would be made successful mobilizing all resources in the province. He warned that stern action would be taken against those creating hurdles in the immunization campaign.
He also assured that if needed, the deployment of Frontier Corps would also be made for making the campaign successful.
It may be mentioned here that the anti-polio campaign would remain continued till September 15, 2024.