Polio vaccination drive from Monday

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has decided to carry out a special polio vaccination drive termed as ‘Outbreak Response’ (OBR) campaign in three selected districts of the province wherein more than 1.24 million eligible children will be administered polio drops.

The decision to this effect was taken in a high-level meeting chaired by Special Secretary Health for Polio Eradication Abdul Basit here in Provincial Emergency Operations Center (PEOC) on Friday. The meeting was attended by Deputy Coordinator EOC Muhammad Zeeshan Khan, team leads UNICEF, WHO & NSTOP, officials of health department and other relevant stakeholders.

The meeting was informed that during this special five-days vaccination drive commencing from October 30, polio drops will be administered to over 0.9 million children in Peshawar, 0.22 million children in Khyber and 0.11 million children in Hangu.

Addressing the meeting, Special Secretary Health for Polio Eradication Abdul Basit said that the government is fully committed to root out the menace of polio virus and this resolve is demonstrated by conducting regular polio vaccination campaigns. He added that we will make all possible efforts to secure the future of our children from this crippling disease.

Abdul Basit appealed to all segments of society including parents, elders, religious scholars, civil society and the media to extend their full support and cooperation to the national cause of polio eradication so that the dream of a polio-free Pakistan may come true.

The meeting was informed that 4,438 teams of trained polio workers including 3874 mobile teams, 294 fixed teams and 270 transit teams have been deployed for the implementation of this campaign. Besides 1103 area in-charges have also been appointed for the vigilant supervision of these teams to make sure that all children in the target areas are administered with polio drops. In order to ensure foolproof security of the polio teams 8,268 security personnel have been deployed in the target areas.