Make or break anti-polio campaign starts tomorrow

National anti-polio campaign would be observed in Punjab from October 15 to October 17, during which 17.65 million children, up to the age of 5 years, would be administered polio drops, along with Vitamin-A.
Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique formally launched the 3-day campaign by administering polio vaccine and Vitamin-A doses to children at Allama Iqbal Medical College/Jinnah Hospital. The representatives of World Health Organization Dr Nima Abid, Dr Wanday, representative of UNICEF, Dr Rana Mushtaq, Director General Health Punjab Dr Nisar Cheema besides Principal Allama Iqbal Medical College Prof. Mahmood Shaukat and other medical experts were also present on the occasion.
Talking to media representatives, Khawaja Salman Rafique said that, unfortunately, Pakistan is included among those only three countries of the world, where polio diseases is prevalent, therefore, there is a need for launching vigorous campaign in all the four provinces for its complete eradication. He said in Khayber Pakhtunkhaw province and its adjoining areas, owing to the war situation and other reasons, thousands of children remain deprived of polio drops every time, due to which polio virus is present all over the country. He said there has been marked improvement in polio coverage in Punjab, due to which only three polio cases have surfaced, while in the previous year these cases were 9. He said that in 2011, as many as 198 polio cases were reported throughout the country. The number has reduced up to 43 cases during current year. Khawaja Salman Rafique said the Punjab government has taken strenuous steps to ensure elimination of polio virus and, on the directive of Chief Minister Punjab, DCOs of all districts have been ordered to make strict vigilance of the polio campaign, while strict legal action would be taken against official showing negligence. In his briefing, Director General Health Dr Nisar Cheema added that 38398 mobile teams have been formulated to administered polio drops to 17.65 million children, from October 15 to October 17, during which polio drops would be administered to the children along with drops of Vitamin-A. He appealed to the parents to ensure polio vaccine drops to their children, so that the younger generation can be saved from permanent disability.