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       RAWALPINDI: An anti-polio drive was launched to vaccinate over one million children under five years of age in the district on Monday.

       Commissioner Aamir Khattak inaugurated the campaign by administering anti-polio drops to children. Similarly, the campaign started across the division under the National Immunisation Day (NID).

       Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema, District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr Asif Arbab Niazi, WHO representatives and district officials were present on the occasion.

       Later, the commissioner presided over a meeting to review arrangements for the third NID of the year.

       Mr Khattak said the district-wide anti-polio campaign will continue till November 1. In the last four months, environmental samples from Dhoke Dalal were found positive twice and from Safdarabad thrice. “This is an alarming situation and it’s highly needed that children are protected against the crippling disease by administering them polio drops,” he said.

       The commissioner said eradication of polio was a national responsibility for which parents, teachers and scholars should be part of government efforts. He appealed to parents to cooperate with the administration during the anti-polio campaign.

       The deputy commissioner directed to District Health Authority to make the campaign successful by immunising over one million children less than five years of age.

       He asked them to focus on highly sensitive union councils, including areas form where people frequently visited Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said special teams had been deputed on entry and exist points of the district as well as at bus and railways stations.

       He said that 100pc implementation of the union councils wise micro plan should be ensured.

       The health department while giving a briefing said during the anti-polio campaign, a target of one million and 57,756 children had been set for polio vaccination.

       For this purpose, 3,717 mobile teams will perform duties of door-to-door vaccination. Likewise, 163 transit points have been established at bus stands, railway stations, main markets and various other points. Apart from this, the facility of anti-polio vaccination will be available at 330 fixed points in health centres across the district.

       Moreover, 245 union council medical officers and 870 area in-charges will perform duties during the anti-polio campaign.

       Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2024