District Health Officer (DHO) Hyderabad Dr Muhammad Aslam Pechuho said on Thursday that the district administration had finalized all arrangement to carry out a massive three-day polio eradication campaign in all four talukas of Hyderabad district from July 16 to 18. DHO said this in a news conference at Hyderabad Press Club. Accompanied by District Focal Persons for Health Dr Muhammad Ashraf Memon, DHO informed that anti-polio drops would be administered to a total of 288565 children of under five years age in all 52 Union Councils of Hyderabad City, Latifabad, Qasimabad and Hyderabad Rural Talukas of Hyderabad district. “The health department has formed 704 mobile vaccination teams which will visit door to door in all 52 Union Councils of the district and immunize anti-polio drops to under age children,” he informed. He added further that anti-polio drops would also be administered to children at 87 fixed vaccination centres and 35 other centres which were being set up at the transit points of the district. “The entire polio eradication campaign will be carried out under the supervision of seven talukas supervisors, 168 area incharges and Union Councils’ Medical Officers,” Aslam Pechuho said. This was also informed that the representatives of WHO, UNICEF, Deputy Commissioner and high officers of Health Department would also monitor the campaign. DHO called upon the people to extend their full cooperation to the vaccination teams and get their children of less than five years age vaccinated against polio. “The people can contact at Toll Free No: 0800-12012 in case the vaccination teams do not arrive at their places,” he said. “There is a need of sincere efforts for preparation of a comprehensive strategy for permanent eradication of polio disease from Hyderabad,” Deputy Commissioner Hyderabad Agha Shahnawaz Babar said. The DC said that eradication of polio was a national duty and the government was also fully committed to root out the disease from the country at any cost. “Under the plan, special cards will be issued to vaccinators on mobile duty in order to ensure their presence on duty and strict action will be taken against him in case any employee is found absent,” he said. He asked the Administrator Auqaf Hyderabad to write letters to Imams (Prayers leaders) of the mosques requesting them to motivate the people to get their children of under five years age vaccinated against polio and save their future.
