A three-day nationwide polio-eradication campaign will commence from Monday throughout the country to administer anti-polio drops to children below five years.
According to an official of Prime Minister’s Polio Monitoring Cell, 34 million children will be immunised against polio by 77,072 house-to-house teams during the drive.
He said each team comprises two members while 9,704 special fixed centres will also provide vaccination facility. Besides, 5,497 special transit teams will be working to cover children travelling during the campaign days.
He said the federal government has provided 39.1 million doses of polio vaccine to the provinces and the deputy commissioners have been directed to lead the campaign.
He said the prime minister has requested all parliamentarians to supervise and support the campaign in their constituencies. Chief ministers, governors and political as well as religious leaders will be inaugurating the campaign in their provinces and areas.
Motorway police will be providing vaccination services at all toll plazas throughout the country. The campaign in three districts of Balochistan—Quetta, Killa Abdulah and Pishin—will be held on May 7 whereas date for campaign in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir will be announced soon.
He said that if any child is missed during the campaign, his or her parents may contact on helpline number for immediate response from immunisation teams. He said the main focus will be on most vulnerable areas to protect the children from the crippling disease.
Meanwhile, the provincial health departments have asked all health workers and volunteers to leave no stone unturned in reaching every child. They also requested parents to make sure that all their children under five years of age receive the polio vaccine during the three-day campaign.
19 outlaws arrested: Police on Friday arrested 19 outlaws and recovered charas, liquor and illegal weapons from their possession. According to a police spokesman, Bani police held Khasta Gul with 1,100 grams of charas and Ziaullah with 1.15kg charash while Waris Khan police arrested Imran with 160 grams of charas.
RA Bazaar police nabbed Banaras and recovered 115 grams of charas from him and held Dilawar for possessing four bottles of liquor.
Pirwadhi police held Gul Nazir on the charges of having 10 bottles of liquor while Rata Amral police arrested Yameen with two bottles of liquor.
Three-day anti-polio drive from Monday
