Polio teams deployed at transit points

LAHORE:The Punjab government has deployed hundreds of polio teams at important transit points ahead of Eidul Fitr to cater to population exodus amid fears of polio virus resurgence in key cities of the province.

The Eid transit points deployment plan, approved by the Punjab Emergency Operations Centre Coordinator Mr Khizer Afzaal, has been set in motion after all environmental samples which have tested positive in Punjab so far, were linked to polio virus clusters active in Afghanistan and other polio hotspots in Pakistan.

Punjab has tested 76 environmental samples this year. Out of the 76, eight samples have tested positive, raising fears that polio virus might spread in key cities; therefore, putting children at risk of the virus.

Lahore and Multan top the list of positive samples so far with two virus importations. While one sample each from Rawalpindi, DG Khan, Faisalabad and Okara have tested positive. The positive samples in Lahore and Rawalpindi indicate that the virus is circulating in the region, even if no one case has been identified it’s alarming for all the children.

If a single case is reported in a region, it remains threat to children residing in 200 houses in vicinity. This Eidul Fitr, Punjab has deployed nearly 300 teams at 30 bus terminals, eight railway stations, 24 hospitals, 20 amusement parks and 10 shopping malls.

On Monday, the Punjab government inaugurated one of the sites with much fanfare at the Emporium Mall. Special stalls were set up to inaugurate the site.

All the sites will continue till April 20 without break even during Eid holidays. The districts where Special Transit Points have been set up include Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, RY Khan, Sahiwal, Okara, DG Khan, Rajanpur, Sialkot, Gujranwala and Gujrat.

The sites are in addition to the 23 permanent ones already functioning in Attock, Mianwali, Bhakkar, DG Khan, Rajanpur, RY Khan, Multan, Faisalabad, Lahore and Sialkot. More than 2.2 million children were vaccinated at these 23 sites in 2023.

Meanwhile, A delegation of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation led by country director Michael Galloway called on Provincial Minister Primary and Secondary Healthcare Kh Imran Nazir. Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) Coordinator Khizar Afzal was also present. The BMGF delegation was briefed by Provincial Health Secretary Ali Jan Khan regarding polio vaccination in Lahore. The delegation was told that the anti-polio targets in Lahore were achieved from 68% to 85% in the last seven months.

The minister said that strengthening the health sector was the CM’s first priority. To make Punjab polio-free, effective planning will be required to prevent the spread of the virus. He said that counters were set up at all transit points for polio immunisation of Afghan citizens. Khawaja Imran Nazir said that in Shafiqabad and Khan colonies a special polio campaign was being started. Michael Galloway, country head of BMGF, said that all-out resources would be provided to eradicate polio from the country.