LAHORE: Punjab will hold polio campaign in eight districts from November 23-25 as part of the Sub National Immunization Day, said Advisor to Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique here on Tuesday.
Khawaja Salman Rafique said that the campaign will target around 5.9 million children of below five years of age in the following districts: Lahore, Multan, Rawalpindi, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Rahim Yar Khan and Sheikhupura (20 Union Councils). He said Punjab will make all out efforts to achieve maximum coverage in these districts. He said coordination with districts have been made to ensure complete preparations that include micro planning, meetings of district management, vaccine supply and mapping of population at greater risk to polio virus.
Khawaja Salman Rafique said that a total of 15212 teams (mobile, fixed, transit teams), will administer polio drops to children. He further said the campaign is being held in 806 Union Councils of the eight districts, Even though Punjab has had no polio cases in the year 2016, the environmental samples have been positive on and off and that shows need to immunize children from the deadly disease. Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Ali Jan Khan directed the staff to ensure implementing pre-campaign activities in line with the National Emergency Plan for Polio Eradication.
Director General Health Services Punjab Dr. Mukhtar Hussain Syed said: “We are completely cognizant of the fact that polio virus is showing in environmental samples recently. The districts have been selected on the basis of environmental samples and risk factors related to population movement patterns from areas having virus circulation.
“The movement of the population at inter-provincial borders, especially from the areas having polio virus circulation, is also under special focus,” the DG Health said. “Southern districts in general are monitored because of geographic situation.” EOC Coordinator Dr. Munir Ahmed requested parents to ensure their children get polio drops. He said parents may also take their children to vaccination centers where staff is available to vaccinate for nine vaccine preventable diseases as well. He said in case of teams not visiting the area, parents can contact the helpline 0800 99000 during campaign days.