Big catch-up vaccination campaign launched to boost immunization coverage across Balochistan

Independent Report

QUETTA: The big catch-up campaign was launched by the Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI) here on Friday.
The bit catch-up drive launched with support of the UNICEF and WHO is aimed at boosting immunization coverage across the province, particularly for children who have missed routine vaccinations.
The provincial launching ceremony of the campaign was held at the Basic Health Unit (BHU), Wahdat Colony here.
The Director General of Health, Dr. Amin Khan Mandokhail, Deputy Commissioner Quetta, Saad bin Asad, Provincial Coordinator of EPI, Dr. Kamalan Gichki, and other concerned officials of Health department, district administration and representatives of the UNICEF and WHO were present at the launching ceremony.
Addressing the launching ceremony, the Deputy Commissioner Quetta said that the vaccination of left over children would be done during the big match-up drive.
He said that the basic aim of the campaign is to save the children from measles, polio and other diseases.
In first phase of the big catch-up drive, some 44,000 children below five years of age would be vaccinated, the Deputy Commissioner added.
Director General Health, Dr. Amin Khan Mandokhail expressed deep concern over increasing cases of poliovirus in Balochistan. He said that reemergence of polio cases in Balochistan is matter of great concern.
The Director General Health said that the parents refusing to the vaccination poses threat to the whole society regarding polio disease.
He suggested that the social boycott of the parents who refuse polio vaccination to their children, should be done in the society.