39.1 million polio vaccine doses provided to provinces

The federal government has provided 39.1 million doses of polio vaccine to the provinces and deputy commissioners have been directed to lead the on-going immunization campaign.
According to an official of Prime Minister’s Polio Monitoring Cell, 34 million children under age of five years will be immunized 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 are also providing vaccination facility. Besides this 5,497 special transit teams are working to cover children travelling during campaign days, mobile and migrant populations. He stated that the Prime Minister has asked all parliamentarians to supervise and support the campaign in their constituencies. Chief ministers, Governors and political and religious leaders inaugurated the campaign in their respective provinces and areas.
Motorway police is providing vaccination services on all toll plazas throughout the country. The drive in three districts of Balochistan included 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 if any child is missed during the campaign his or her parents may contact on helpline number for immediate response from immunization teams. He further stated that 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.
Citizens’ role important in anti-polio campaign: The citizens particularly parents role is quite important to make the anti-polio campaign a success as they should come forward to make efforts for the elimination of the crippling disease from the society.
District Officer Health Dr Khalid Randhawa said a five-day anti-polio campaign has been started in Rawalpindi district on Monday under which children under five-year of age are being administered anti-polio drops.
Dr. Khalid Randhawa informed that 1344 mobile teams comprising members from district health department, education department, teaching hospitals, police, population welfare, social welfare and civil defence were formed in this regard that has started visiting door to door to administer anti-polio drops. Strict action on negligence of the duty would also be taken, he added.
DO Health further informed that along with the mobile teams, special vaccination centers in health centers and hospitals of the district have been set up. Special counters have also been set up at public parks, railway station, bus stands, wagon stands, airport and other transit points where teams are available to administer anti-polio drops to the children so that no child up to the age of five years could remain unattended.
The parents should cooperate with the special teams so that the set target could be achieved. The DO Health informed that continuous efforts are being made to control polio. He said no stone is being left unturned in efforts to meet the target.