Anti-polio drive kicks off tomorrow

LAHORE

Punjab government will hold anti-polio campaign in all 36 districts from May 23 to May 25 as part of the National Immunisation Day, said Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique on Saturday.

According to a handout, Khawaja Salman Rafique said that the campaign would target 18.4 million children under five years of age in 3,550 union councils of the province. He said directives had been issued to the provincial Emergency Operation Centre to coordinate with districts and ensure complete preparations that include micro-planning, meetings of district management, vaccine supply and mapping of population at greater risk to polio virus.

Primary and Secondary Healthcare Secretary Ali Jan Khan said polio had been declared a national emergency and respective DCOs were leading polio eradication efforts at the district level.

He said that over 43,000 teams had been constituted for the campaign, which included more than 36,000 mobile and 4,340 stationary teams. He also directed the staff concerned to ensure preparatory activities in line with National Emergency Plan for Polio Eradication.

Health Services Punjab Director General Dr Mukhtar Hussain Syed said, “We have identified weak union councils needing major improvement. The health EDOs of these districts have been directed to especially monitor these union councils.” “The movement of the population at inter-provincial borders, especially from the areas having polio virus circulation, is also under special focus,” he said. Southern districts in general will be monitored as part of larger central Pakistan strategy, he added 

EOC Coordinator Dr Munir Ahmed requested parents to ensure their children get polio drops. He said parents could contact the helpline 0800 99000 during campaign days if the teams did not visit their area.

constituency: Provincial Minister for Food Bilal Yasin has said that all possible resources are being utilised to solve the problems of PP-139 constituency, Lahore. 

The minister said that PP-139 constituency would be made a model with regard to facilities, and genuine problems of the people will be solved immediately.

According to a handout issued on Saturday, the minister said this while addressing an open court at his election office at Mohni Road.