3-day anti polio campaign being launched from tomorrow

Lahore: National Anti-polio campaign is being launched throughout 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, alongwith Vitamin-A. Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique presided over a meeting to review arrangements of the campaign here today. The representatives of World Health Organization Dr. Nima Abid, Dr. Wanday, representative of  besides other medical experts were also present.

Talking to media representatives, on this occasion, 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 war situation and other reasons, thousand of children remain deprived of polio drops every time, due to which polio virus is present in all over the country, including Punjab, he said there has been marked improvement in polio coverage in Punjab, due to which only three polio cases have surfaced, while previous year these cases were nine. He informed that in 2011, as many as 198 polio cases were reported throughout the country which 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 informed 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 alongwith drops of Vitamin-A. He said, in Punjab, approximately, more than 40 lac children  are suffering from lack of Vitamin-A, due to which resistance power and eye sight of children is negatively impacted, due to which Punjab government has made arrangements to administration Vitamin-A dose to more than 14 million children in collaboration with WHO, UNICEF and Micro Nutrient Initiative. He appealed to the parents to ensure polio vaccine drops to their children, so that the younger generation can be save from permanent disability.