Around 771,000 children up to five years of age were administered anti-polio drops on Monday, the first day of the three-day special polio eradication campaign, Sindh Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed said on Tuesday. “It is essential that all children up to five years of age are administered anti-polio drops in order to save them from disability,” he added. Dr Ahmed was of the view that this is the only option as the treatment of polio is not possible and only preventive steps can help check this malady.
The Minister said that in case the team charged with administering polio vaccine does not turn up, people should register their complaint at the surveillance cell set up by the Health Department. He also exhorted the officers associated with the polio eradication campaign to convince parents to have their children administered drops and in case of non-cooperation, they should inform the parents and guardians about the harmful consequences of their refusal. Dr Ahmed was optimistic that the target would be achieved because of the foolproof arrangements.
