No polio virus has been reported from any part of Balochistan in the last fifteen months, said a provincial official.
Balochistan Health Secretary Abdul Saboor Kakar told a media outfit that despite looming security threats, the health department along with World Health Organisation was able to vaccinate children in all parts of the province.
“Since December 2012, no polio case has been reported in the province,” Kakar said.
“The year 2012 was considered to be the worst year for Pakistan in general and Balochistan in particular when 73 polio cases were reported here,” he added.
“We even eradicated polio reservoirs from Quetta,” Kakar said.
He mentioned there were polio virus traces in the sewerage system and water in Quetta. However the government was able to eradicate that as well.
Regarding security threats, Kakar informed that in all 32 districts of Balochistan, security committees comprising officers of police and district administration were formed to ensure uninterrupted polio campaign.
“Thousands of personnel escort polio teams in Balochistan,” Kakar explained.
He said 2.2 million children below five years were provided anti-polio vaccination across Balochistan during a three day campaign which concluded on Wednesday.
Quetta, Pishin and Killa Abdullah were declared as the most sensitive districts during the anti-polio campaign.
Kakar said Killa Abdullah, which borders neighboring Afghanistan, was prone to polio virus. In 2012, a total of three cases were reported from the district.
However since then, he said, no polio case has been reported from Killa Abdullah.
Armed militants have targeted anti-polio teams five times in Quetta and other troubled parts of Balochistan during the last three years. At least two people were killed in those attacks.
Balochistan is Pakistan’s least developed province and is wracked by an insurgency.
