LAHORE: Punjab is gearing up for a comprehensive response to a recent polio virus detection in Lahore and Rawalpindi, as confirmed by the national laboratory in October.
Starting today, the initiative will target four districts in the region.
Khizer Afzaal, the Coordinator of the Emergency Operations Centre and head of the polio program in Punjab, officially declared that the campaign will extend its reach to Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sheikhupura, and Rajanpur, effective immediately.
In Lahore and Rawalpindi, the campaign is scheduled to continue for a duration of seven days, whereas in Rajanpur and Sheikhupura, it will span five days.
Rajanpur’s inclusion in the campaign is attributed to its shared provincial border with Balochistan and Sindh, where both regions reported a polio case and a positive environmental sample in October. The movement of populations between these areas necessitates a coordinated effort.
Likewise, Sheikhupura’s involvement in the campaign is justified by significant population movements from Lahore.
The polio inoculation drive will mobilize a workforce of 32,000 dedicated individuals who will conduct door-to-door visits. Among them, 14,000 workers will focus on Lahore, 7,000 on Rawalpindi, 7,000 on Sheikhupura, and over 4,000 will be deployed in Rajanpur.
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This initiative aims to provide polio drops to over 4.2 million children, with 2.85 million children in Lahore, 1 million in Rawalpindi, 0.7 million in Sheikhupura, and 0.5 million in Rajanpur.
During a meeting with District Health Authorities of the four districts, Mr. Khizer Afzaal, the head of the Punjab polio program, emphasized the importance of vaccinating children who were missed during the October campaign. He instructed district officials to devise a coverage plan for children who were not reached during the previous campaign.
Furthermore, the head of the Emergency Operations Centre stressed that deputy district health officials should personally oversee the polio campaign and supervise all staff under their purview to ensure the campaign’s quality is maintained. He directed health officials to ensure the accuracy of data and prevent any child from being missed at transit sites.
The head of the Emergency Operations Centre reiterated the commitment of the Punjab government and the department to intensify efforts in keeping Punjab free from the polio virus. He reassured the public that multiple doses of oral polio vaccine offer the best protection against the virus and urged parents to trust in the government’s efforts to eradicate polio, encouraging them to welcome polio teams during the campaigns.
