3-day national anti-polio campaign is starting from tomorrow: Kh Salman

Lahore: Advisor on Health, Kh. Salman Rafiq has said that eradication of polio from the country is essential for ensuring a safe future for the new generation and the war against polio will continue till complete victory. He said that 3-day national anti-polio campaign is starting in the province from December 8 and Health Department has constituted teams for administering polio drops to one crore 80 lakh children.

He was talking to media after participating in awareness walk against polio in Gulberg today. Persons from different walks of life, civil society, NGOs representatives, workers of Muslim League, local shopkeepers and officials of police and district administration attended the walk.

Kh. Salman Rafiq said that 276 polio cases have surfaced in the country so far out of which only three have been detected in Punjab which is a proof of good performance of Provincial Health Department and other institutions. However, he said that polio from the country can be eradicated only if all the provinces make collective efforts in this regard. He said that polio case in any part of the country is a matter of concern.

Kh Salman Rafique informed that 3-day anti-polio campaign is starting in the province from Monday December 8 during which target of vaccination of 18.1 million children of five years old has been fixed and Health Department has constituted 35204 mobile teams for this purpose which will visit houses and administer vaccine to the children. Besides 4265 teams have been constituted for administering vaccine to children at all government hospitals and health centers, he added.

Moreover, 2254 teams have been deputed for vaccination to the children at exit and entry points of the province. He further told that 3555 UC medical officers have also been appointed for the supervision of polio teams and success of the campaign in all the union councils. Replying to a question, Kh Salman Rafique said that the elements quarreling with polio teams and torturing them will be dealt with sternly and instructions have been issued to police officials for providing security to polio teams in all sensitive areas.