Three-day countrywide anti-polio drive begins today

ISLAMABAD: A three-day countrywide anti-polio campaign begins today (Monday) amidst strict measures for security of the polio vaccination teams.

According to reports, in Punjab, Adviser to the chief minister on Health, Khawaja Salman Rafique said a total of 18 million children up to age of five years will be administered anti-polio drops.

A dose of Vitamin A will also be given to the children of six months age. He said over thirty-nine thousand teams have been formed for the drive to administer the drops to the children door to door.

Moreover, teams have also been deputed at all entry and exit points, airports, railway stations, bus stands and other public places for the purpose.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the anti-polio campaign will begin in twenty-three districts. According to Provincial Health Department, more than 5.3 million children up to five years of age will be administered anti-polio drops.

Sixteen thousand and seven hundred teams have been constituted, which will visit door to door to vaccinate children against polio. Children of the Afghan refugees will also be administered anti-polio drops.

In Sindh, over 6 million children will be administered polio drops in twenty-three districts except Karachi during the campaign. In Balochistan, over 2.4 million children will be administered anti-polio drops.

In Gilgit-Baltistan, over 200,000 children would be vaccinated against polio during the three-day campaign. 1200 have been constituted to make success the anti- polio drive.

Strict measures have been taken for security of the polio vaccination teams across the country.