Punjab will hold polio campaign from February 15 to 17

Lahore: Punjab will hold polio campaign in eight districts from February 15 to 17, said Advisor to Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique here on Wednesday.

Khawaja Salman Rafique said that the campaign is part of the Sub National Immunization Day and will target selected eight districts deemed to be at greater risk to polio virus transmission. These districts: Lahore, Multan, Rawalpindi, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalpur (Tehsil Ahmed Pur East).

He said directives have been issued to these districts to complete the necessary arrangements. He further said the provincial EPI Program has made close coordination with these districts to ensure timely micro planning, mapping of high risk mobile population and vaccine supply.

Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Ali Jan Khan said that the campaign will target 5,808,387children of below five years of age in 839 Union Councils of these districts. He said Polio has been declared a national emergency and at district level, respective DCOs are taking complete ownership of polio eradication efforts.

Director General Health Services Punjab Dr. Mukhtar Hussain Syed said a total of 15121 teams will perform their duties in the campaign which include 13030 mobile teams, 1290 fixed and 801 transit teams. He said special focus has been laid on the movement of the population at inter-provincial borders, especially those coming from the areas having polio virus circulation.

The DG Health further said the southern districts are being especially focused as part of larger central Pakistan strategy and coordination with districts of other provinces sharing border with Punjab is made for integrated efforts.

Director EPI Dr. Munir Ahmed requested parents to ensure their children get polio drops. He said parents may also take their children to fixed EPI center where staff is available to vaccinate for nine vaccine preventable diseases as well. He said in case of teams not visiting the area, parents can contact the helpline 0800 99000 during campaign days.

Punjab has largely been able to interrupt polio virus transmission from high risk areas and reported two cases out of country of 54 in the 2015.