A nationwide anti polio campaign has been launched to eradicate polio, under which more than 19 million children in various districts of Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab will be administered polio drops.
In Punjab, the anti polio campaign has started in 10 districts including Lahore. According to the Punjab Polio Control Program, the campaign in Lahore will continue until May 24, while in the other nine districts it will continue until May 22.
During the campaign in Rawalpindi, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Multan, Mianwali, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rahim Yar Khan, 6.19 million children will be administered polio drops.
In Sindh, a five day anti polio campaign is underway in 20 districts including Karachi, where the target has been set to vaccinate 5.8 million children. The campaign will continue in 1,125 union councils, while the government has appealed to parents to ensure their children receive polio drops.
Aseefa Bhutto Zardari paid tribute to the services of frontline workers and reaffirmed the Sindh government’s commitment to delivering vaccines to every child and ensuring a polio free future.
The anti polio campaign has also started in 23 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to the Emergency Operations Center Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the target has been set to vaccinate more than 4.6 million children.
The anti polio campaign will continue in various districts including Peshawar, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Torghar, Upper and Lower Kohistan, Kolai Palas, Bajaur, Lower Dir, Mohmand, Mardan, Nowshera, Khyber, Kohat, Hangu, Kurram and Karak. The campaign in Peshawar and Khyber will continue for seven days, while in other districts it will continue for four days.
According to the National EOC, 19 million children will be administered polio drops during the campaign, while more than 160,000 polio workers will perform duties in this national drive.
According to official figures, 6.19 million children in 10 selected districts of Punjab, 5.79 million children in 20 districts of Sindh, 4.61 million children in 23 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 1.99 million children in 25 districts of Balochistan will be vaccinated against polio.
In Islamabad, 450,000 children will also be given the polio vaccine.
