Punjab will hold three-day polio campaign from 14 of March

Lahore : Punjab will hold three-day polio campaign from 14 to 17 March as part of the National Immunization Day. The campaign will be held in 3550 Union Councils in all 36 districts of the province and 18,343,426 children of below five years of age will be administered polio drops.

It was stated by the Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Khawaja Salman Raffique. He further said that DCOs and DPOs of all the districts have been asked to ensured arrangement according to the National Action Plan for polio. The Advisor further said that routine immunization coverage in Punjab increased significantly and due to effective anti-polio campaigns,  Punjab is successful to control polio. He said that during 2015 only two polio cases were reported in Punjab out of total 54 cases in the country. Khawaja Salman Rafiq said that so far no polio case has been reported in Punjab in 2016.

Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Ali Jan Khan told the minister that recent positive environmental sample in Faisalabad was a reminder that Punjab cannot afford complacency. “The genetic sequence of recent environmental sample in Faisalabad was related to circulation in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan. Health Department staff in Faisalabad has been directed to ensure special vigilance of high risk mobile population in the campaign,” the Secretary added.

He said a total of 43,848 teams have been constituted for the campaign which include 36,848 mobile, 4,340 fixed sites and 2,314 transit teams. The Secretary also directed the staff to ensure preparatory activities in line with National Emergency Plan for Polio Eradication.

Director General Health Services Punjab Dr. Mukhtar Hussain Syed said, “We have identified low performing union councils of last three campaigns and have directed the concerned EDOs (H) to take necessary measures for improvements.”

He said IPV has been introduced in routine immunization as well. He urged parents to get their children immunized in the campaign. “Besides mobile teams, the EPI staff at health facilities and fixed sites will be available for polio drops and routine immunization. Instructions have been passed to all EDOs (H) to ensure coverage of every child especially high risk mobile populations”, he added.

The DG Health said Special Transit Points have been set up on bordering districts with other provinces where children are immunized on entry points. He said in case of teams not visiting the area, parents can contact the helpline 0800 99000during campaign days.

The province faces a major challenge of migrant population from other provinces, he added.