SALEEM SHAHID
QUETTA: Anti-polio drive began throughout Balochistan on Monday during which over 2.4 million children will be vaccinated.
Strict security measures have been taken for the campaign which will last for three days.
“The campaign has started in all 30 districts of the province and we are expecting better results of the campaign,” said Dr Syed Saif Ur Rehman, Coordinator Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) Balochistan.
Vaccinators in 6,463 mobile teams would go door-to-door to give oral polio vaccine to children. There are teams posted at 782 fixed-site and 311 transit points to perform their duties. “I am in Killa Abdulla to monitor the campaign which is one of the high risks areas in Balochistan,” he told this scribe.
As many as seven cases of wild polio virus have been reported in Balochistan — five in Quetta, one each in Loralai and Killa Abdullah.
“The Chief Secretary and Commissioner Quetta division are going to chair meetings to review the performance of the teams,” said Dr Saif who was also going to chair the evening meeting in Killa Abdullah.
The Health Department, government of Balochistan, Unicef, WHO and other partner agencies are working together to improve the quality of the campaign.
According to statistics, the Balochistan province is improving but recent surge in polio cases in Karachi had set off alarm bells for Balochistan province.
Karachi connects with Balochistan and there would be issues, if the situation did not improve in Karachi, said Dr Syed Saif Ur Rehman.